An alarming number of children are being removed from their parents for their own safety.
The latest child protection report shows over 28,000 children now live outside the traditional home, an increase of 100 per cent over the past decade.
Cynthia Kim from the Institute of Health and Welfare says the issues surrounding these children are complex.
“The number of children on care and protection orders went up by 87 per cent in 10 years, and the number of children in out of home care has more than doubled during this period,” she said.
“Typical issues are property, parental unemployment, parental mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems and low economic status.”