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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Queensland child safety minister axes key survey of children in care

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Queensland's child safety minister axed the annual 'My Life in Care Survey,' previously called a cornerstone of the child safety system.
  • The survey revealed that 40% of children aged 10-18 in care had made complaints, with 39% unhappy with how their reports were handled.
  • The minister cited concerns about children being "bribed" with vouchers in previous years and stated the survey was not an accurate representation of children's experiences.

Queensland's child safety minister, Amanda Camm, has "had no hesitation" in axing the annual 'My Life in Care Survey,' a tool she previously lauded as integral to the state's child safety system.

had no hesitation

— Amanda CammDescribing her decision to axe the 'My Life in Care Survey.'

The survey, conducted since 2022, was described by Camm as a "cornerstone" of the government's approach and proof that it was "on the right track." Outcomes from the 2024 survey were included in a submission to the now-finalized Child Safety Inquiry. In a draft foreword, Camm stated the survey's findings would be used to "check on our progress, assess the impact of our reforms and continually refine our approach."

cornerstone

— Amanda CammPreviously describing the survey's importance to the child safety system.

Nearly 1,000 youths aged 10-18 and 88 children aged five to nine responded to the 2024 survey. It revealed that 40% of older respondents had complained about their time in care, and 39% were dissatisfied with the handling of their reports. However, Camm argued the survey did not accurately represent the experiences of children in care, pointing to a finding that 67% felt happy in care. She contrasted this with a "Children in Care census" that indicated over 69% of children entering care had suffered more than three types of abuse, stating the survey "painted a picture of a child safety system, one that was full of happy emojis."

on the right track

— Amanda CammPreviously describing the child safety system based on survey results.

Camm also criticized the practice of giving children vouchers for grocery stores to complete the survey under the former Labor government, calling it "bribing." She stated, "I will not be guided by a survey that was conducted where children were bribed to answer the survey and given money to answer the survey." The Opposition noted that the Queensland Family and Child Commission advised compensating young people for their participation. The removal of the survey eliminates a complaint mechanism for children in care, despite calls from the state's peak child safety oversight body for more such avenues.

We will use what we learn from the My Life in Care survey each year to check on our progress, assess the impact of our reforms and continually refine our approach.

— Amanda CammStated in a draft foreword for a submission to the Child Safety Inquiry.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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