Ms Kate Duggan:

I will let Mr. Hone come in as my answer will be short.

First, I will set a context for people to understand. Nearly 5,800 children are in the care of the State. Every one of those children has a care order and is under the oversight of the court. The court sees at first hand on a daily basis the impact on a child if a registered placement is not available for him or her. It is important to recognise that 87% of the nearly 5,800 children are in foster care. We know that 95% of children in care today are in full-time education. We have reached the highest level of children and young people transitioning to aftercare for those over 18. A total of 78% of them are in education or training. Many of those remain living with their foster carers. Many of those remain in or are transitioned or supported to accommodation.

We also know that a number of children have very complex needs and vulnerabilities where they may not be able to be matched with foster care placement or where the foster care placement may break down. These children may go into residential care placements, some of which may break down. They are the children and young people we discussed in our statement who need the whole-of-government and interagency support because their needs extend beyond a mainstream residential care placement. Their needs extend to needing disability services, mental health services and addiction services.

Equally, when it comes to reunification, it is important for us to advocate as an agency on behalf of the parents who need support. Children may have to be taken into care at a certain point because of a parent's vulnerability, particularly when it relates to addiction or mental health difficulties. We also think it is important for this committee to advocate for support services to birth parents. We have established a new advocacy service for them. Their access to mental health supports and addiction supports is important. If children have to come into care, we want them to be taken in at the right time and to receive a stable and regulated placement. Equally, we want work done to support reunification or to make it available to parents.

Mr. Hone might want to add to that.