Out of Home Care Dashboards
What is out of home care (OOHC)?
A child or young person may need protection if they do not have a parent or relative who can look after them safely, or if they are at risk of being harmed. If a child is placed in out of home care, they are removed from their family and the government becomes responsible for their day-to-day safety, wellbeing, and development.1
Aboriginal children and young people are disproportionately represented within OOHC.
Aboriginal children represented 60.5% (3,139) of all children in care as of 30 June 2026, despite comprising approximately only 7.3% of children and young people in Western Australia.2
The Commission has released the OOHC dashboard to support greater awareness, transparency and accountability regarding outcomes for children and young people in out of home care. The dashboard aligns with the Commissioner's statutory role to monitor and advocate for children and young people and contributes to efforts to track progress towards Closing the Gap Outcome 12,3 which aims to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children in out of home care. By making key data publicly accessible, the dashboard helps inform discussion, policy development and action to improve outcomes for children and young people in care.
Quarterly data is provided by the Department of Communities (DoC). Terms used in the dashboards align with the data provided. Locations have been categorised into the different regions of WA.
Open investigations
Referrals or notifications concerning the wellbeing and safety of children are sent to the DoC. The DoC then has the responsibility to inquire about the wellbeing of the child to determine if further action is needed. These inquiries are called open investigations.4,5
Children in care
After the completion of the open investigation, if the DoC identifies that the child is not receiving safe or adequate care from their parents/guardians, the child then comes into the care of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DoC. This means the DoC then has responsibility for the day-to-day care, welfare and development of the child in care.5
Length of time in care before exit
The length of time in care is calculated based on how much time has passed since the child has come into the care of the CEO, until they then leave or age out of the OOHC system.
Placement types
Care arrangements for children that come into care are decided based on various principles that are designed maintain the child’s connection to their family and community and consider the child’s best interests.1,6
Placement types describe the care setting in which a child or young person is living. Definitions have been developed based on Department of Communities placement categories and are intended to assist interpretation of the data.
| Placement type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Department residential | Group care provided by DoC for children and young people with complex needs. Children and young people live in a staffed residential home funded by DoC. |
| Department non-relative foster care | For children and young people aged 0 to 17 years who are unable to live with their own families for a time. Foster carers are recruited, assessed and supported directly by DoC. |
| Foster care with family member | For children and young people aged 0 to 17 years who are unable to live with their own families for a time. Can be temporary or long-term. Carers are volunteers who are either related to, or have a pre-existing relationship with, the child or young person. |
| Funded service foster care | For children and young people aged 0 to 17 years who are unable to live with their own families for a time. Carers are recruited, assessed and supported by a non-government organisation funded by the DoC. Carers are volunteers who are typically not related or known to the child. |
| Funded service residential | Group care provided by a non-government organisation funded by the DoC for children and young people with complex needs. Children and young people live in a staffed residential home with support from rostered care workers. |
| Other | Out of home care placements that are not otherwise categorised, including unknown placement types. This includes boarding schools, detention, hospitals, etc. |
| Parent/former guardian | When a child or young person is living with their biological parents, usually as part of a reunification process. |
| Self-selected arrangement | When a child or young person chooses not to stay with carers who have been assessed to care for them. Instead, they might choose to stay with friends, family members or acquaintances who have not been assessed or approved by the DoC. |
*Placement types describe the care setting in which a child or young person is living. Definitions have been developed based on Department of Communities placement categories and are intended to assist interpretation of the data.
Children on special guardianship orders
Special guardianship orders (SGO) are granted by the Children’s Court of Western Australia and provides an individual with parental responsibility for the child in care, until the child reaches 18 years of age. Guardians who have had a child in long-term care (at least two consecutive years) can apply for an SGO. The child is then no longer considered to be in the care of the CEO.7
Children leaving care
Children may leave care or transition out of care. Those who leave care are no longer the legal responsibility of the CEO.
Reasons for exit
There are several reasons as to why children may leave the care of the CEO:
| Reason for exit | Definition |
|---|---|
| Child reached eighteen years | Upon turning 18 years of age the young person is considered an adult and is no longer legally under the care of the CEO. |
| Reunified with biological parent/s | The child or young person returned to the care of their biological parent or parents following a period in out of home care. |
| Reunified person prior parental responsibility | The child or young person returned to the care of a person who previously held parental responsibility for them, such as a guardian. |
| Transfer to Special Guardianship Order | The child or young person remains in the care of a Special Guardian, who obtains full responsibility. |
| Transfer to interstate agency | Responsibility for the child or young person was transferred to the child protection authority in another Australian state or territory. |
| Child deceased | The child or young person died while in a care arrangement or legal order. |
| Other | The child or young person exited care for another reason not captured by the listed categories. This may include administrative arrangements, transfers of responsibility, or other circumstances recorded by the Department. |
Child Protection System Overview
References
- Commissioner for Children and Young People WA. (2026). DISCONNECTED, UNPROTECTED: What happened to the best interest of the child? Commissioner for Children and Young People WA
- Commissioner for Children and Young People WA. (2026). Profile of Children and Young People in WA 2026. Commissioner for Children and Young People WA
- Closing the Gap. (n.d.). 7B. Table B: Outcome 12. https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement/national-agreement-closing-the-gap/7-difference/b-targets/b12
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). Child protection Australia 2020–21, Notifications, investigations and substantiations. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2020-21/contents/notifications-investigations-and-substantiations
- Department of Communities. (2023). Policy on assessment and investigation processes for child safety concerns. Government of Western Australia
- Department of Communities. (2025). Care Planning Policy Purpose. Government of Western Australia
- Department of Communities. (2021). Becoming a special guardian. Government of Western Australia