News
6 August, 2025
Kids in crisis
A STAGGERING 780 children under the care of the Department of Child Safety are currently self-placing across Queensland—living away from their assigned foster, kinship or residential placements, often without supervision or support.
The State Government has ordered a full audit to uncover where these vulnerable children are, their ages, and what efforts are being made to engage and support them.
The move comes as a Commission of Inquiry into Queensland’s troubled child safety system begins in Brisbane.
Self-placing children often face increased risks of homelessness, exploitation and criminal behaviour. The number of children living outside of official care placements has remained consistently high over the past five years—rising from 694 in March 2020 to 871 in March 2023.
The government will also review contracting processes within the residential care sector, which has become increasingly dependent on unlicensed, for-profit providers. Last financial year, these providers received $474.3 million in state funding.
Of the 110 unlicensed providers, 102 are for-profit, and only 11 hold a licence. In contrast, licensed providers—mostly not-for-profit—are subject to strict oversight under the Child Protection Act.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm said the lack of accountability in the sector was unacceptable. “Allowing one vulnerable child to self-place in Queensland is unacceptable to me, let alone 780 young people, that’s why I have ordered a full audit of the kids in care who are self-placing, to understand how the current system can be improved,” she said.
“It is vital we have an understanding of how we can better support these vulnerable children to get their lives back on track and if they have a youth justice crossover – ensure we are doing all we can to better protect the community.”
“The residential care sector is a billion-dollar industry built on the back of vulnerable children with taxpayers’ money, it is critical there is oversight and these organisations know that if they do not perform the Government will act.
“It is critical we take the necessary steps to fix issues when they are uncovered to ensure children are being adequately taken care of.
“There are some extraordinary people who work in the child safety sector, who go above and beyond for vulnerable children and I’m certain they want what’s best for them.”
The 17-month inquiry aims to rebuild public trust and ministerial and departmental accountability.
