Dimension 2: Safety
Aboriginal
Outcome
Young South Australians are safe and nurtured
Indicators
- Children and young people live in safe housing
- Children and young people are safe from preventable injury
- Children and young people are safe from abuse and neglect
- Children and young people are safe from crime
What we know from the most recent data…
Children and young people live in safe housing
Housing stress
The percentage of Aboriginal children and young people (under 15 years) in SA living in households experiencing housing stress was 28.1% in 2016 (26.8% in 2011).
Nationally, the percentage was 27.1% in 2016 (25.1 in 2011).
Data Source: AIHW, Children’s Headline Indicators
Homelessness
In SA, the percentage of Aboriginal children and young people (under 19 years) experiencing homelessness was 343.6 per 10,000 population in 2021.
Nationally, the rate was 278.4 per 10,000 population in 2021.
Data Source: ABS, Homelessness
Children and young people are safe from preventable injury
Hospitalisations
The percentage of presentations by Aboriginal children and young people under 18 years to public hospital emergency departments, whose presentations were classified as ‘potentially preventable hospitalisations’, was 14.6% in 2022 (15.8% in 2018).
Data Source: Health Information Portal (Admitted Activity), SA Health
Preventable/unintentional deaths due to injury
Between 2012-16, 20.9 per 100,000 deaths of Aboriginal children and young people under 15 years were classified as preventable/unintentional deaths (9.3 in 2008-2012).
Nationally, the rate for 2012-16 was 14.5 per 100,000 deaths (14.2 in 2009-13).
Data Source: AIHW, Children’s Headline Indicators
Children and young people are safe from abuse and neglect
Notifications
In 2023-24, young Aboriginal South Australians aged 0-17 years were notified to the child protection system at a rate of 294.1 per 1,000 population (231.4 in 2018-19).
Note: The reported rate of notifications is not disaggregated into age groups, therefore the council is unable to report on the two measures stated in the Outcomes Framework.
Data Source: Child Protection, Report on Government Services
Admission to out-of-home care (OOHC)
In 2023-24, young Aboriginal South Australians aged 0-17 years were admitted to OOHC at a rate of 15.4 per 1,000 population (17.2 in 2018-19).
Data Source: AIHW, Child Protection Collection
Children and young people in OOHC
In 2023-24, young Aboriginal South Australians aged 0-17 years were in OOHC at a rate of 94.1 per 1,000 population (75.3 in 2018-19).
Data Source: AIHW, Child Protection Collection
Home-based care
On the 30th June 2024, 60.7% of out-of-home-care (OOHC) Aboriginal children and young people aged 0-17 years, were in home-based care (relative/foster carer households) in SA.
Data Source: AIHW, Child Protection Collection
Children and young people are safe from crime
Victims of offences
In 2024, reported to the South Australia Police (SAPOL):
- 132.3 per 10,000 of Aboriginal children and young people under 18 years who were victims of offences (excluding sexual assault and related offences) (80.8 in 2019).
- 20.9 per 10,000 of Aboriginal children and young people under 18 years who were victims of sexual assault and related offences (20.7 in 2022).
Data Source: Attorney-General’s Department, Justice Policy and Analytics
Arrests
In 2024, 463.6 per 10,000 for Aboriginal children and young people (10 to 17 years) who were apprehended (arrested and/or reported) by police (439.2 in 2019).
Data Source: Attorney-General’s Department, Justice Policy and Analytics
Police diversions
In 2021-22, 22.5% of Aboriginal youth offenders (under 18 years old) were diverted from the youth justice system in SA.
Data Source: Report on Government Services, Police Services