In April 2025, the department introduced the Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach (EIAA) to improve how we respond to and support families and children at intake and during assessments. The EIAA aims to provide families with earlier assessment of need and opportunities to access targeted support to increase safety and resolve concerns.
This page provides an overview of the new approach and explains how the department will measure its performance under the EIAA.
The introduction of the EIAA has resulted in changes to reporting and performance measures to align with the new response pathways and practice. As a result, some measures are no longer directly comparable to previous data, leading to time series breaks. The table below provides more details on these changes.
Overview of the Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach (EIAA)
The Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach (EIAA) introduces a modern, flexible and proportionate way of working with families. The new approach focuses on providing earlier assessment of family needs and offering targeted support to address identified concerns. For children at significant risk of harm, investigative approaches continue to be used.
Assessment Response Types
Standard Response
A Standard Response is a response to a notification where there are no immediate safety concerns for the child and an investigative response is not required. The focus is to offer help and support to the family by assessing their needs and connecting them with support to reduce risk to a child.
How it works:
- A Standard Response commences within seven business days of the notification decision
- Child Safety visits the family and assesses the child’s immediate safety and the family’s support needs.
- Additional information to inform the assessment is gathered as required.
- Child Safety helps the family connect with appropriate support services to address their needs.
A standard response can be escalated to a priority response if there are immediate safety concerns for the child and an assessment of whether they are a child in need of protection is required.
Priority Response
A Priority Response is a response to a notification where the concerns indicate that a child may be at immediate risk of harm and requires an assessment to determine if the child is in need of protection.
How it works:
- A priority response commences within 24 hours or 72 hours of the notification decision, depending on the urgency to assess the child’s immediate safety.
- This response may require a joint response with Police.
- Child Safety conducts an assessment of the child’s immediate safety and assesses the allegations of harm and risk of harm.
- This response involves a thorough assessment of the child, family and home environment and includes gathering information, interviewing the child and parents and an assessment of whether the child is in need of protection requiring ongoing intervention.
This response is similar to the previous investigation and assessment response.
Summary of previous and new measures
The table below outlines the changes to performance measures under the EIAA, including which measures have been continued, superseded, or replaced.
| Previous measure | Status Previous measure | New measure | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notifications requiring an investigation and assessment | Superseded | Assessments required |
Previously, each child in a household was counted individually for every notification requiring an investigation and assessment.
Now, one assessment is counted per household notification, provided no existing assessment is already in progress. |
| Notifications with a commenced investigation and assessment by commencement timeframes | Superseded | Assessments commenced by whether commenced within timeframe |
Previously, only those notifications that were received during the reference period (the last 12 months) were counted in this measure.
Now, this measure counts the number of assessments commenced during the period, grouped by whether they started within the required timeframe. Each assessment is counted once, regardless of the number of children involved or when the intake was received. This provides a more accurate picture of the total number of assessments commenced during the period. |
| Notifications with a finalised investigation and assessment | Superseded | Assessments completed |
Previously, this measure counted one notification per child where the notification was received during the reference period and the investigation and assessment was finalised.
Now, this measure counts each assessment completed during the period, regardless of the number of children involved or when the intake was received. This provides a more accurate reflection of the total volume of assessments undertaken by the department during the period. |
| Notifications with a finalised investigation and assessment by outcome | Superseded | Child assessment outcomes |
Previously, this measure counted one notification per child where the notification was received during the reference period and the investigation and assessment was finalised. Each child was counted for every notification they were part of, and outcomes were reported at the child level.
Now, this measure counts the outcome for each child involved in an assessment completed during the period, regardless of when the intake was received. Each child’s outcome is reported separately, providing a complete picture of child outcomes. |
| Investigation and assessment outcomes | Superseded | Refer to definition column |
Formerly investigation and assessment outcomes were:
The new assessment outcomes are: For priority responses:
For outcomes where a child is in need of protection, a new most serious abuse type (exposure to domestic and family violence) is now available in addition to physical, sexual, emotional and neglect. For standard responses:
|
| Distinct children subject to a substantiation | Superseded | Distinct children in need of protection |
Previously, this measure counted each child who was subject to notification(s) during the reference period that were subsequently investigated and substantiated. Each child was counted once, regardless of the number of substantiations they were subject to.
Now, the measure counts each child subject to a priority response completed during the period with an outcome of "child in need of protection" regardless of when the household intake was received. Each child is counted once, regardless of the number of priority responses completed. This provides a more complete indication of demand for ongoing intervention as it counts all children in need of protection during the period irrespective of when the household intake was received. |
| Notifications completed within timeframe | Superseded | Assessments completed by whether completed within timeframe |
Previously, each child in a household was counted individually for every notification that was received during the reference period.
Now, all assessments completed during the period are counted regardless of when the notification was received, grouped by whether they were completed on time (within 30 days of the intake decision). Each assessment is counted once, regardless of the number of children involved. This provides a more accurate reflection of the timeliness of all assessments completed during the year. |
INTAKES RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR WHERE AN ASSESSMENT WAS REQUIRED
Assessments required by response type(a)
| Response type | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sep 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments required | 4,849 | 9,935 | 15,364 | 21,035 | 21,504 |
| Priority response | 2,687 | 5,590 | 8,345 | 11,442 | 12,057 |
| Standard response | 2,162 | 4,345 | 7,019 | 9,593 | 9,447 |
Notes:
1. Includes all household intakes screened and recorded as a notification since the introduction of Unify (which can include household intakes received prior to April 14 but recorded in the new system) and whether an assessment was required. An assessment is required when the household intake is recorded as a priority or standard response and there are no other current open assessments for the family.
2. If a household has received multiple intakes in a reference period that are linked to an existing assessment the assessment required is only counted once (for the originating intake) regardless of the number of children in the household or how many intakes are linked to the assessment.
3. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) With the introduction of the Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach an assessment is required when a household intake is screened in as a notification with either a priority response (assesses a child or an unborn child’s need for protection) or a standard response (assesses a child’s immediate safety and the family’s support needs) and no current assessment for the family is open.
INTAKES RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR WHERE AN ASSESSMENT WAS REQUIRED AND WHETHER IT WAS COMMENCED
Assessments required by response type and whether commenced
| Response type(a) | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments required | 4,849 | 9,935 | 15,364 | 21,035 | 21,504 |
| Assessment commencement possible(b)(c) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 21,422 |
| Assessments commenced(b)(c) | 2,773 | 7,177 | 12,051 | 16,966 | 16,733 |
| Assessments not commenced | 2,076 | 2,758 | 3,313 | 4,069 | 4,689 |
| Percentage of assessments required and commenced | 57.2% | 72.2% | 78.4% | 80.7% | 78.1% |
| Priority response assessments required | 2,687 | 5,590 | 8,345 | 11,442 | 12,057 |
| Priority response assessment commencement possible(b)(c) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 12,015 |
| Assessments commenced(b)(c) | 1,680 | 3,840 | 6,374 | 9,580 | 10,346 |
| Assessments not commenced | 1,007 | 1,750 | 1,971 | 1,862 | 1,669 |
| Percentage of priority assessments commenced | 62.5% | 68.7% | 76.4% | 83.7% | 86.1% |
| Standard response assessments required | 2,162 | 4,345 | 7,019 | 9,593 | 9,447 |
| Standard response assessment commencement possible(b)(c) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 9,407 |
| Assessments commenced(b)(c) | 1,093 | 3,337 | 5,677 | 7,386 | 6,387 |
| Assessments not commenced | 1,069 | 1,008 | 1,342 | 2,207 | 3,020 |
| Percentage of standard assessments commenced | 50.6% | 76.8% | 80.9% | 77.0% | 67.9% |
Notes:
1. Includes all household intakes screened and recorded as a notification since the introduction of Unify (which can include household intakes received prior to April 14 but recorded in the new system) where an assessment was required by whether the assessment had commenced. An assessment is required when the household intake is recorded as a priority or standard response and there are no other current open assessments for the family.
2. If a household has received multiple intakes in a reference period that are linked to an existing assessment the assessment required is only counted once (for the originating intake) regardless of the number of children in the household or how many intakes are linked to the assessment.
3. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) With the introduction of the Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach an assessment is required when a household intake is screened in as a notification with either a priority response (assesses a child or an unborn child’s need for protection) or a standard response (assesses a child’s immediate safety and the family’s support needs).
(b) Due to Unify functionality that existed between April 2025 and May 2026 assessments that were finalised were required to have a commencement date recorded upon completion despite not always being able to be commenced eg. family could not be located. From May 2026 this functionality was enhanced to enable the recording of assessments that have ended without a commencement date to be identified.
(c) From June 2026, assessment commencement possible excludes those assessments that could not be commenced.
ALL ASSESSMENTS COMMENCED DURING THE YEAR REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INTAKE WAS RECEIVED AND WHETHER IT COMMENCED WITHIN TIMEFRAME
Assessments commenced by response type and commencement timeframe
| Response type | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sep 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments commenced(c) | 5,949 | 10,223 | 14,685 | 20,218 | 18,944 |
| Commenced within timeframe | 787 | 1,711 | 2,618 | 3,620 | 3,757 |
| Not commenced within timeframe | 5,162 | 8,512 | 12,067 | 16,598 | 15,187 |
| Percentage of assessments commenced within timeframe | 13.2% | 16.7% | 17.8% | 17.9% | 19.8% |
| Priority assessments commenced - 24 hours(a) | 578 | 1,252 | 1,941 | 2,679 | 2,839 |
| Commenced within timeframe | 529 | 1,133 | 1,743 | 2,398 | 2,528 |
| Not commenced within timeframe | 49 | 119 | 198 | 281 | 311 |
| Percentage of assessments commenced within timeframe | 91.5% | 90.5% | 89.8% | 89.5% | 89.0% |
| Priority assessments commenced - 72 hours | 615 | 1,992 | 3,437 | 5,698 | 7,641 |
| Commenced within timeframe | 151 | 344 | 518 | 717 | 758 |
| Not commenced within timeframe | 464 | 1,648 | 2,919 | 4,981 | 6,883 |
| Percentage of assessments commenced within timeframe | 24.6% | 17.3% | 15.1% | 12.6% | 9.9% |
| Standard assessments commenced - 7 days(b) | 4,756 | 6,979 | 9,307 | 11,841 | 8,464 |
| Commenced within timeframe | 107 | 234 | 357 | 505 | 471 |
| Not commenced within timeframe | 4,649 | 6,745 | 8,950 | 11,336 | 7,993 |
| Percentage of assessments commenced within timeframe | 2.2% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 5.6% |
Notes:
1. Includes all assessments commenced within the reference period (irrespective of when the intake was received or the number of children in the household) by the initial timeframe recorded at intake. For those intakes that commenced as a safety and support response but then reverted to a standard or priority response upon finalising the intake, adjusted timeframes are factored in for this pathway. If the intake was recorded in the previous system ICMS (Integrated Client Management System) prior to the introduction of the new Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach (EIAA) the timeframe is calculated on the original timeframes recorded at the time but reported within the new EIAA response categories.
2. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) Includes assessments where the linked intake was pre-EIAA with a response priority of 24 hours.
(b) Includes assessments where the linked intake was pre-EIAA with a response priority of 5 days or 10 days.
(c) Due to Unify functionality that existed between April 2025 and May 2026 assessments that were finalised were required to have a commencement date recorded upon completion despite not always being able to be commenced eg. family could not be located. From May 2026 this functionality was enhanced to enable the recording of assessments that have ended without a commencement date to be identified and are excluded from this measure from June 2026 onwards.
INTAKES RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR WHERE AN ASSESSMENT WAS REQUIRED AND WHETHER IT WAS COMPLETED
Assessments required by response type and whether completed
| Response type(a) | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments required | 4,849 | 9,935 | 15,364 | 21,035 | 21,504 |
| Assessments completed | 2,245 | 6,320 | 11,007 | 15,721 | 15,688 |
| Assessments not completed | 2,604 | 3,615 | 4,357 | 5,314 | 5,816 |
| Percentage of assessments required and completed | 46.3% | 63.6% | 71.6% | 74.7% | 73.0% |
| Priority response assessments required | 2,687 | 5,590 | 8,345 | 11,442 | 12,057 |
| Assessments completed | 1,365 | 3,343 | 5,729 | 8,848 | 9,682 |
| Assessments not completed | 1,322 | 2,247 | 2,616 | 2,594 | 2,375 |
| Percentage of priority assessments completed | 50.8% | 59.8% | 68.7% | 77.3% | 80.3% |
| Standard response assessments required | 2,162 | 4,345 | 7,019 | 9,593 | 9,447 |
| Assessments completed | 880 | 2,977 | 5,278 | 6,873 | 6,006 |
| Assessments not completed | 1,282 | 1,368 | 1,741 | 2,720 | 3,441 |
| Percentage of standard assessments completed | 40.7% | 68.5% | 75.2% | 71.6% | 63.6% |
Notes:
1. Includes all household intakes screened and recorded as a notification since the introduction of Unify (which can include household intakes received prior to April 14 but recorded in the new system) where an assessment was required by whether the assessment has been completed by two months post the reference period. An assessment is required when the household intake is recorded as a priority or standard response and there are no other current open assessments for the family.
2. If a household has received multiple intakes in a reference period that are linked to an existing assessment the assessment required is only counted once (for the originating intake) regardless of the number of children in the household or how many intakes are linked to the assessment.
3. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) With the introduction of the Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach an assessment is required when a household intake is screened in as a notification with either a priority response (assesses a child or an unborn child’s need for protection) or a standard response (assesses a child’s immediate safety and the family’s support needs). A standard response can be escalated during the assessment to a priority response however reported here by the assessment response type approved at intake.
ALL ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INTAKE WAS RECEIVED
Assessments completed by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments completed | 6,068 | 10,392 | 14,839 | 20,169 | 18,781 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 2,101 | 3,586 | 5,108 | 6,928 | 6,323 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 3,967 | 6,806 | 9,731 | 13,241 | 12,458 |
Notes:
1. Includes all completed assessments within the reference period (irrespective of when the intake was received).
2. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes assessments where at least one subject child is identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
(b) Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes assessments where all subject children are identified as non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children or whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
ALL ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED WITH AN OUTCOME DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INTAKE WAS RECEIVED BY WHETHER COMPLETED WITHIN TIMEFRAME
Assessments completed with an outcome by response type and whether completed within timeframe
| Final response type | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2025 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessments completed with an outcome(a)(b)(c) | 2,482 | 6,026 | 9,505 | 13,519 | 15,499 |
| Completed within timeframe | 1,311 | 1,966 | 2,584 | 3,222 | 2,633 |
| Not completed within timeframe | 1,171 | 4,060 | 6,921 | 10,297 | 12,866 |
| Percentage of assessments completed within timeframe | 52.8% | 32.6% | 27.2% | 23.8% | 17.0% |
| Priority response assessments completed with an outcome(a)(c) | 1,863 | 4,520 | 7,159 | 10,400 | 12,430 |
| Completed within timeframe | 976 | 1,532 | 2,049 | 2,617 | 2,328 |
| Not completed within timeframe | 887 | 2,988 | 5,110 | 7,783 | 10,102 |
| Percentage of assessments completed within timeframe | 52.4% | 33.9% | 28.6% | 25.2% | 18.7% |
| Standard response assessments completed with an outcome(b)(c) | 619 | 1,506 | 2,346 | 3,119 | 3,069 |
| Completed within timeframe | 335 | 434 | 535 | 605 | 305 |
| Not completed within timeframe | 284 | 1,072 | 1,811 | 2,514 | 2,764 |
| Percentage of assessments completed within timeframe | 54.1% | 28.8% | 22.8% | 19.4% | 9.9% |
Notes:
1. Includes all completed assessments within the reference period (irrespective of when the intake was received) where at least one child in the completed assessment had an outcome of either child in need of protection; child not in need of protection; ongoing intervention continues; assessed, referred & closed; or assessed & closed.
2. Excludes those assessments that were completed with no assessment outcome for all children within the assessment eg. where the family could not be located.
3. For those assessments where the initiating intake commenced as a safety and support response but then reverted to a standard or priority response upon finalising the intake, adjusted timeframes are factored in for this pathway.
4. For those assessments where the initiating intake was recorded in the previous system ICMS (Integrated Client Management System) prior to the introduction of the new Enhanced Intake and Assessment Approach (EIAA) the completion within timeframe is calculated on the practice timeframes in place at the time but reported within the new EIAA response categories.
5. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) Includes priority response assessments that were completed with an outcome of either child in need of protection; child not in need of protection; or ongoing intervention continues.
(b) Includes assessments that were completed with an outcome of either assessed & closed; or assessed, referred & closed.
(c) Includes assessments where the linked intake was pre-EIAA with a response timeframe of 100 days.
ALL ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE INTAKE WAS RECEIVED BY CHILD ASSESSMENT OUTCOME *
* (each child in an assessment is given their own outcome. For example, one child in a household may be assessed as in need of protection and another child in the household may be assessed to be not in need of protection).
Child assessment outcomes for assessments completed, by response type and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
| Final response type | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority response assessments completed | 4,514 | 11,002 | 17,386 | 25,658 | 30,504 |
| Child in need of protection | 962 | 2,148 | 3,330 | 4,580 | 4,960 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 400 | 942 | 1,467 | 2,082 | 2,251 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 562 | 1,206 | 1,863 | 2,498 | 2,709 |
| Ongoing intervention continues | 195 | 495 | 748 | 1,050 | 1,160 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 95 | 254 | 387 | 556 | 617 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 100 | 241 | 361 | 494 | 543 |
| Child not in need of protection | 3,100 | 7,644 | 12,195 | 18,177 | 22,117 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 1,027 | 2,538 | 4,053 | 5,930 | 6,916 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 2,073 | 5,106 | 8,142 | 12,247 | 15,201 |
| No assessment outcome(a) | 257 | 715 | 1,113 | 1,851 | 2,267 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 77 | 228 | 379 | 674 | 832 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 180 | 487 | 734 | 1,177 | 1,435 |
| Standard response assessments completed | 9,872 | 13,196 | 16,909 | 20,857 | 12,286 |
| Assessed and closed | 782 | 2,062 | 3,304 | 4,509 | 4,564 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 229 | 568 | 925 | 1,239 | 1,219 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 553 | 1,494 | 2,379 | 3,270 | 3.345 |
| Assessed, referred and closed | 533 | 1,115 | 1,731 | 2,234 | 2,055 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 185 | 376 | 578 | 740 | 669 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 348 | 739 | 1,153 | 1,494 | 1,386 |
| No assessment outcome(a)(c) | 8,557 | 10,019 | 11,874 | 14,114 | 5,667 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 2,810 | 3,244 | 3,737 | 4,324 | 1,472 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(b) | 5,747 | 6,775 | 8,137 | 9,790 | 4,195 |
Notes:
1. Includes all children subject to a completed assessment within the reference period (irrespective of when the intake was received).
2. Where an assessment relates to more than one child, an assessment is counted for each child to report on their outcome.
3. Where a child is the subject of more than one completed assessment during the reference period an assessment outcome is counted for each instance.
4. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) No assessment outcome includes assessments that were unable to be commenced or completed due to insufficient information or inability to locate a child or family, and the assessment has therefore been finalised and closed. This may occur in circumstances where a family has relocated interstate or overseas, or insufficient information is provided and the family cannot be located despite all reasonable steps having been undertaken to identify the family and their location.
(b) Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
(c) No assessment outcome includes those standard response assessments reviewed and closed where the original notification was recorded more than 60 days prior, no new, significant information had been reported to the department since that time, the assessment does not involve an unborn child, and a review process has been undertaken and the decision to close endorsed by the regional practice leader. Unborn child assessments are excluded to prioritise early engagement, help and support for pregnant people, with the aim of reducing the likelihood the unborn child will be in need of protection upon birth.
DISTINCT CHILDREN IN NEED OF PROTECTION AS A RESULT OF ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD IRRESPECTIVE OF WHEN THE INTAKE WAS RECEIVED
Distinct children in need of protection by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distinct children in need of protection | 957 | 2,136 | 3,291 | 4,496 | 4,877 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 399 | 939 | 1,452 | 2,044 | 2,215 |
| Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 558 | 1,197 | 1,839 | 2,452 | 2,662 |
Distinct children in need of protection by most serious abuse type(b)
| Most serious abuse type | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distinct children in need of protection | 957 | 2,136 | 3,291 | 4,496 | 4,877 |
| Physical | 113 | 249 | 357 | 465 | 459 |
| Sexual | 61 | 110 | 201 | 275 | 319 |
| Emotional | 216 | 474 | 696 | 974 | 1,016 |
| Neglect | 330 | 833 | 1,316 | 1,783 | 2,014 |
| Exposure to DFV | 237 | 470 | 721 | 999 | 1,069 |
Distinct children in need of protection by age group(c)
| Age group(c) | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 June 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 30 Sept 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 | Year ending 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distinct children in need of protection | 957 | 2,136 | 3,291 | 4,496 | 4,877 |
| Unborn | 128 | 287 | 416 | 582 | 655 |
| 0 to 4 | 303 | 640 | 1,002 | 1,347 | 1,446 |
| 5 to 9 | 230 | 526 | 824 | 1,137 | 1,228 |
| 10 to 14 | 227 | 533 | 815 | 1,113 | 1,193 |
| 15 to 17 | 69 | 149 | 232 | 314 | 351 |
| Not yet recorded | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Notes:
1. Counts the number of individual children subject to a completed assessment within the reference period (irrespective of when the intake was received) with an outcome of child in need of protection.
2. If a child is subject to more than one assessment with an outcome of child in need of protection, the child is counted only once for the assessment with the earliest approved date in the reference period.
3. The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and interrelated datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and children whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
(b) Most serious abuse type refers to the type of abuse assessed as being most serious, according to their first in need of protection outcome during the period.
(c) Age group is based on the age of the child at the time the concerns were received.