This report contains comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system.

Across Australia in 2009-10 over 187,000 children were the subject of a child protection notification; just over 31,000 children were the subject of a substantiation; around 37,000 children were on care and protection orders; almost 36,000 children were living in out-of-home care; and there were almost 8,050 foster carer households.