This report provides an overview of children in the child protection system in 2022–23, including children subject to notifications, investigations, and substantiations of maltreatment, and the ways children were supported.

The child protection system aims to protect children from maltreatment in family settings. Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power (WHO, 2020).

Key findings 

• In 2022–23, about 180,000 children came into contact with the system, an increase from about 178,000 in 2021–22.
• Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the rate of children who were subjects of notifications increased from 48 to 51 per 1,000.
• Between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the rate of children with substantiations remained relatively stable around 8.0 per 1,000.
• Between 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2023, the rate of children in out-of-home care remained stable around 8.0 per 1,000.