This document is the 16th annual report on child protection in Australia. The report includes detailed statistical information on child protection services provided on the state and territory level as well as demographic and background information on the children receiving services. The report also includes key findings from analysis of the statistical and demographic data. Among the key findings highlighted, the report notes that child abuse and neglect increased from the previous year and that very young children are the most likely subject of abuse and neglect. The report also states that most of the children placed in out-of-home care were placed for over a year, over half of the foster care households housed multiple foster children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were overrepresented in the child protection system.
