New South Wales Child Protection
NSW has the largest child protection system in Australia with over 16,000 children in out-of-home care. Significant reform including the transition to permanency-focused models.
System Outcomes — New South Wales
Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2026
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Care services expenditure ($'000) | 2,003,194 | 2024-25 |
| Intensive family support expenditure | $152K | 2024-25 |
| Foster carer households | 3,018 | 2024 |
| Kinship care households | 4,827 | 2024 |
| Children placed with kin (%) | 7523.0% | 2025 |
| Child protection notifications | 114,160 | 2024-25 |
| Indigenous notificationsindigenous | 25,096 | 2024-25 |
| Children in OOHC (no order) | 63 | 2025 |
| Children in OOHC (on orders) | 6,262 | 2025 |
| Protective intervention expenditure ($'000) | 808,028 | 2024-25 |
| Re-substantiation within 12 months (%) | 20.2% | 2023-24 |
| Substantiated (detailed) | 9,992 | 2024-25 |
| Substantiation rate (%) | 62.2% | 2024-25 |
| Substantiations | 3,171 | 2025 |
| Indigenous substantiationsindigenous | 1,192 | 2025 |
Programs
| Program | Funding | Orgs |
|---|---|---|
| 8. Out of Home Care and Permanency Support | $814.6M | 166 |
| 5. Child Protection | $115.7M | 116 |
| 4. Child Protection | $112.0M | 48 |
| UNCOMMODIFY FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED — Lighthouse Foundation (supporting Foster Care & Families to feel safe & loved) | — | 1 |
Top Funded Organisations
| Organisation | Funding |
|---|---|
| Life Without Barriers | $98.3M |
| Wesley Community Services Limited | $57.8M |
| Uniting (NSW ACT) | $52.7M |
| Allambi Care Limited | $47.7M |
| The Benevolent Society | $47.4M |
| Barnardos Australia | $43.6M |
| Challenge Community Services | $35.7M |
| Lifestyle Solutions (Aust) Ltd | $33.8M |
| Anglicare NSW South NSW West and ACT | $32.3M |
| Mackillop Family Services Limited | $31.1M |
| Kari Ltd | $28.4M |
| CareSouth | $26.8M |
| Caspa Services Ltd. | $25.3M |
| Premier Youthworks Pty Limited | $22.7M |
| Burrun Dalai Corporate | $20.2M |
| Mission Australia | $19.7M |
| The Westhaven Association | $16.9M |
| Uniting (NSW.ACT) | $16.8M |
| CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning | $16.8M |
| Samaritans Foundation Diocese of Newcastle | $16.1M |
| Pathfinders Ltd | $15.6M |
| Marist Youth Care Limited | $15.2M |
| Impact Youth Services Pty Ltd | $14.9M |
| CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay | $14.8M |
| Wesley Community Services Ltd | $13.3M |
Evidence Base (ALMA)
What works in New South Wales 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.
Family is Culture Review
Independent review of Aboriginal children in OOHC. 125 recommendations including restructuring DCJ. Found systemic failures for Aboriginal families.
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.
Strengthening families, protecting children
NSW child protection legislative reform package. Permanency planning, adoption, guardianship orders.
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.
Wood Special Commission of Inquiry
Inquiry into child protection services in NSW. Led to creation of Keep Them Safe reforms and restructure of Department of Community Services.
Oversight & Accountability
Recommendations from inquiries, audits, and commissions
| Body | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
Family is Culture Review Family is Culture | FIC-1Transfer child protection decision-making for Aboriginal children to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations | pending |
Family is Culture Review Family is Culture | FIC-2Abolish the risk assessment tool (SDM) which systematically disadvantages Aboriginal families | rejected |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Life Without Barriers | child protectionndisyouth justice | $443.9M |
| Aruma Services Limited | child protectionndisyouth justice | $100.8M |
| Mission Australia | child protectionndis | $25.9M |
| Stride Mental Health Limited | child protectionndis | $12.3M |
| THE TRUSTEE FOR THE NEXTT HEALTH TRUST | child protectionndis | $9.1M |
| Southern Cross Care Services Pty Limited | child protectionndis | $8.9M |
| Integratedliving Australia Ltd | child protectionndis | $5.9M |
| Uniting Church In Australia Frontier Services | child protectionndis | $3.5M |
| Technical Aid To The Disabled | child protectionndis | $2.3M |
| Randstad Pty Limited | child protectionndis | $233K |
| St George Meals on Wheels (NSW) Inc | child protectionndis | $17K |