Child Molesters, Child Abuse Effects: Bulimia, Eating Disorders, Addictions

An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report found the number of notifications increased from 198,355 in 2002/03 to 219,384 in the 2003/04 financial year.

The latest figure represents a rise of 10.6 per cent on the previous year, but also shows notifications have more than doubled in the past five years, from 107,134 in 1999/2000.

In addition, the number of cases where there was reasonable cause to believe that harm had occurred or would occur rose in all states and territories.

Report co-author Susan Kelly from the AIHW's Children, Youth and Families Unit said some of this increase in notifications and substantiations reflected changes in child protection policies.

"However, it is also an indication of a higher level of awareness of child protection concerns in the wider community and more willingness to report problems to child protection departments," she said.

"Increased funding of child protection and community support services in general, and an increase in the number of child protection workers could also be contributing factors."

The report found the number of children in out-of-home care in Australia rose by more than 3,000 cases over the last three years.

The number of children either placed with relatives, or in foster or residential care, has increased from 18,241 in 2001 to 21,795 in June 2004.

Since 1996, the number of children in care has increased by 56 per cent, with the increases occurring right across Australia.

"About 94 per cent of all these children are living with relatives, foster carers or in some other home-based arrangement rather than in facilities such as family group homes or residential care," Ms Kelly said.

It also showed rises in the number of children on care and protection orders in all of the states and territories.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were over-represented in the child protection system.

For children on care and protection orders, the indigenous rate was 11 times that of other children and up to 12 times the rate for children in out-of-home care.