Victoria's child protection system is failing its most vulnerable children, according to new reports that highlight funding shortfalls, declining foster carer numbers, and a 'refer-and-close roundabout' leaving many without support. The state's commissioner for children and young people has raised alarm over 35 deaths of children who had contact with the system, with cases repeatedly closed without effective intervention.
The commissioner's report, tabled in parliament on Thursday, found that children were caught in cycles of ineffective referrals to voluntary services, with 58% of cases unable to engage families. In many instances, parents refused help or families faced long waitlists due to funding meeting only one-third of demand last financial year. Calls to child protection have surged from 118,096 in 2021-2022 to about 151,000 in 2024-2025, straining staff ability to assess risk.
A separate auditor general report revealed that delayed, inaccurate data hampered workers' decisions on placements and services. Despite previous warnings, the department's funding requests were unsuccessful. Foster carer numbers are declining significantly, increasing pressure on kinship care, which now accounts for 81.7% of placements. Victoria's carer payments are the lowest in Australia, a key factor in the decline.
Kinship Carers Victoria director Anne McLeish criticised the 'stunning' lack of data, suggesting the system may not even know where some children live. The commission examined 35 child deaths, finding 267 reports to child protection, 231 closed at intake or investigation. 'Many reports contained information of real ongoing and/or escalating risk,' the commission found, yet children were not deemed at significant risk. In 2025, 75% of reports involved children previously reported.
