The Out of Sight Inquiry, established on 4 March 2020, looked at how often children and young people are absent or missing from residential care, why they are absent or missing, what happens when they are, and what can be done to better respond to this issue. The inquiry report was tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 24 June 2021.

The Commission is particularly concerned about the connection between the children and young people going missing from care and their experience of victimisation, including as victims of sexual exploitation.

Terms of reference:

The inquiry into young people who are absent or missing from residential care has the following terms of reference:

• To identify the reasons why children and young people go missing or are absent from residential care
• To develop a better understanding of the harm that children and young people suffer when they are missing or absent from residential care
• To identify and recommend changes to policy, practice, legislation or the provision of services to:
  • reduce the number of incidents or children and young people going missing or absent from residential care
  • reduce the harm suffered when a child or young person is missing or absent from residential care
  • improve support to children and young people when they return to residential care
  • improve monitoring and oversight mechanisms to track changes over time.