Profile highlights worrying trend with increasing numbers of WA children and young people living in poverty and within the child protection system.

Commissioner for Children and Young People, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, has released the latest edition of the annual publication, ‘Profile of Children and Young People in WA 2024’.

The Commissioner said the report provides an important insight into the lives of more than 644,000 children and young people living in WA, who represent almost one quarter of the state’s total population. It compiles up to date data and identifies trends in the areas of population, childcare, education and vulnerability.

“The Profile helps us understand more about the children and young people in WA, in particular those experiencing vulnerability and hardship, including those in the juvenile justice system, out of home care, with disability or living in poverty," Commissioner McGowan-Jones said. “There are some concerning figures, particularly the 10 per cent increase of Aboriginal children and young people in out of home care over the past decade in WA. The Closing the Gap target is to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in out of home care by 45 per cent by 2031 but the continued growth in WA puts this target at significant risk."

The Profile contains data across population demographics, including:

• WA is home to around 46,000 Aboriginal children and young people.
• Over 15 per cent of children and young people in WA were born outside of Australia.
• An estimated 43,600 WA children and young people have a reported disability.
• Almost 25 per cent of children and young people in WA live in regional or remote areas.
• Around 51 per cent of Aboriginal children and young people in WA live in regional or remote areas.
• About two-thirds of students attend government schools, with one third attending Catholic and Independent schools.
• Approximately 107,000 children and young people in WA aged 0 to 17 years are living in poverty.
• Almost 5,200 WA children and young people are in out of home care, of which, more than half (59.3%) are Aboriginal.
• The number of Aboriginal children and young people in care has increased by more than 10 per cent in the past decade.
• About 6,500 children and young people in WA are home-schooled, almost a 50 per cent increase since 2019.

Data in the report has been collated and compiled from reputable sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and various WA Government departments and research organisations to provide a comprehensive statistical overview of children and young people in WA.

“The Profile provides government agencies, local governments and non-government organisations with key data that can help inform policies, services and programs to support children and young people."

The Commissioner said while the data was useful for anyone engaged in policy work or service delivery for children and young people, it needed to be supported by hearing the views of children and young people through direct consultation. “Children and young people have the right to share their views and to be heard by policy makers on issues that affect them. It is vital that they have a voice in the decision-making process on programs and services that are designed to support them.”