Safeguarding the rights of Aboriginal children in the child protection system

Abstract

This report, conducted by the Audit Office of New South Wales, examines whether the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and five of its funded non-government organisations are effectively safeguarding the rights of Aboriginal children in the child protection system. The audit period was June 2018 to June 2023. The report assesses governance and accountability arrangements, policies and practices, and monitoring and quality assurance systems. Findings indicate that the DCJ has not effectively safeguarded the rights of Aboriginal children as required by legislative frameworks, with Aboriginal children being over-represented in the child protection system.