Qld child safety minister axes key survey of children in care

Queensland's Child Safety Minister, Amanda Camm, has decided to discontinue an annual survey of children in care, despite previously praising it as a vital component of the government's efforts to address the broken child safety system. The My Life in Care Survey has been conducted every year since 2022, but it will no longer be conducted.

Ms Camm, citing the survey's inaccuracy, argued that it did not accurately reflect the experiences of children in care. The survey, which included questions about their backgrounds, emotional well-being, and safety, received responses from nearly 1,000 youths and 88 children in 2024. However, Camm emphasized that the survey's results, such as the 40% of children who had complained about their time in care, were not a true representation of their experiences.

She also pointed out that the survey was conducted under the former Labor government, which had provided vouchers for participation. The Opposition and the Queensland Family and Child Commission have criticized the decision, stating that children should be compensated for their participation in the survey. The removal of the My Life in Care survey eliminates a complaint mechanism for children in care, despite calls for improvements from the state's peak child safety oversight body.