State Inquiry Reveals Hundreds of High-Risk Children Placed with Unlicensed Care Providers
A state inquiry into child safety has revealed that hundreds of high-risk children were placed in residential care with potentially unqualified providers due to a decade-long failure to keep pace with safety checks. Deputy Director-General Bernadette Harvey testified that one-third of young people in residential care remain with providers not formally assessed for their ability to provide basic needs. This issue stems from a surge in demand five years ago, which led to increased reliance on emergency care providers exempt from licensing. While the department aims to have 95% of long-term providers licensed by year-end, a significant backlog persists. Additionally, 1,600 children eligible for family-based care remain stuck in residential facilities, partly due to a shortage of foster carers. To address this, the government launched a $27 million trial partnering with foster care agencies, offering substantial payments to carers. Critics note this could professionalize foster care, potentially creating disparities. The inquiry highlights systemic failures in accreditation and resource allocation within the Queensland child safety system, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory compliance and expanded family-based placement options to ensure child welfare and financial efficiency.
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State Inquiry Reveals Hundreds of High-Risk Children Placed with Unlicensed Care Providers
A state inquiry into child safety has revealed that hundreds of high-risk children were placed in residential care with potentially unqualified providers due to a decade-long failure to keep pace with safety checks. Deputy Director-General Bernadette Harvey testified that one-third of young people in residential care remain with providers not formally assessed for their ability to provide basic needs. This issue stems from a surge in demand five years ago, which led to increased reliance on emergency care providers exempt from licensing. While the department aims to have 95% of long-term providers licensed by year-end, a significant backlog persists. Additionally, 1,600 children eligible for family-based care remain stuck in residential facilities, partly due to a shortage of foster carers. To address this, the government launched a $27 million trial partnering with foster care agencies, offering substantial payments to carers. Critics note this could professionalize foster care, potentially creating disparities. The inquiry highlights systemic failures in accreditation and resource allocation within the Queensland child safety system, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory compliance and expanded family-based placement options to ensure child welfare and financial efficiency.
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