Spending On Children In Care Below Average
The Age
Thursday January 31, 2008
FUNDING for Victorian children in state care has slipped behind the national average as more children than ever come under the child protection radar.
Productivity Commission figures show that while nationally there was $336 spent on each child in protective and out-of-home care services, Victoria spent $258 - less than every state except Western Australia.A Government spokesman said the commission figures did not include the money spent on non-government family services that targeted vulnerable children before they entered the system.The commission's report showed there were more than 7700 Victorian children who were in out-of-home care at least once in 2006-07. The majority of these stayed with foster parents.It found most children who were on protection orders and living outside of their home had endured no more than two placements, but a small number had multiple placements over a period of months or years. At least 85 moved through up to 10 different homes in more than five years. -- DEWI COOKE
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