Australian Capital Territory Child Protection
The ACT has the smallest child protection system with around 900 children in care. Focus on therapeutic care and permanency.
System Outcomes — Australian Capital Territory
Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2026
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Care services expenditure ($'000) | 100,893 | 2024-25 |
| Intensive family support expenditure | $11K | 2024-25 |
| Foster carer households | 143 | 2024 |
| Kinship care households | 256 | 2024 |
| Children placed with kin (%) | 327.0% | 2025 |
| Child protection notifications | 8,496 | 2024-25 |
| Indigenous notificationsindigenous | 1,258 | 2024-25 |
| Children in OOHC (no order) | 5 | 2025 |
| Children in OOHC (on orders) | 178 | 2025 |
| Protective intervention expenditure ($'000) | 28,825 | 2024-25 |
| Re-substantiation within 12 months (%) | 14.6% | 2023-24 |
| Substantiated (detailed) | 71 | 2024-25 |
| Substantiation rate (%) | 31.0% | 2024-25 |
| Substantiations | 154 | 2025 |
| Indigenous substantiationsindigenous | 47 | 2025 |
Programs
| Program | Funding | Orgs |
|---|---|---|
| Children, Youth and Family Services - Youth Justice | $14.1M | 1 |
Top Funded Organisations
| Organisation | Funding |
|---|---|
| Community Services Directorate | $14.1M |
Evidence Base (ALMA)
What works in Australian Capital Territory child protection
Policy Timeline
Key legislation, inquiries, and reforms
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
All jurisdictions commit to implementing 10 Child Safe Standards based on Royal Commission recommendations.
Safe and Supported: National Framework 2021-2031
Successor to 2009 framework. Four focus areas: prevention, First Nations, OOHC reform, information sharing. First 5-year action plan 2023-2028.
National Redress Scheme commences
Established under National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018. Counselling, direct personal response, and monetary payments up to $150,000.
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse — Final Report
Five years, 57,000+ calls, 8,000+ private sessions. 409 recommendations across institutions, redress, criminal justice, child safe standards.
National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children
First national plan — Protecting Children is Everyone's Business 2009-2020. Established six outcome areas and 12-year reform agenda.
Oversight & Accountability
Recommendations from inquiries, audits, and commissions
| Body | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
Royal Commission IRCS Final Report | RC-CP-1Establish National Office for Child Safety to coordinate cross-jurisdictional child safe standards | implemented |
Royal Commission IRCS Final Report | RC-CP-2All institutions working with children must implement the 10 Child Safe Standards | partially implemented |
Royal Commission IRCS Final Report | RC-CP-3Establish National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse | implemented |
Cross-System Organisations
Entities appearing across multiple policy domains
| Organisation | Domains | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| St John Ambulance Australia Ltd | child protectionndis | $2.5M |
| National Disability Services Limited | child protectionndis | $1.8M |
| CALF MANAGEMENT PTY LTD | child protectionndis | $846K |