A young Queensland teenager has spent a decade in care, telling 7NEWS he’s experienced homelessness, witnessed abuse by foster families and been bounced around residential care homes.
It comes after 7NEWS spoke with another young boy in Queensland’s state care on Friday who came forward with a disturbing account of his experience in the system.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Queensland minister defends child safety reforms
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Another teen has reached out with a similar story.
“You don’t get food every day, you don’t get the support, the love, you don’t get any care whatsoever. You’re pretty much on your own unless you find really good people like I have,” the teenager told 7NEWS.
This teenager has spent a decade in care, claiming he’s slept on the street, saw abuse in foster families and was bounced around residential care homes.
He has a message for those in power.
“Just think of it as your kid, or your kids, or your family being in a situation,” he said.
7NEWS spoke with a young boy in care on Friday. Credit: 7NEWS
Queensland’s Child Safety Minister finally fronted the issue head on, holding a snap press conference to address the claims raised by these kids.
“We are unashamedly, unashamedly embarking upon reform,” Amanda Camm said.
The reform includes transitioning young children out of residential care. Camm rejected claims the policy has led to more kids seeking a safe space in government offices.
“No. Not one. Not one,” she said.
However, Labor argues child safety staff report a different story.
“Well, that’s not what child safety staff have said. That’s not what services have told us,” opposition spokesperson Meaghan Scanlon said.
Queensland Forster and Kinship Care’s Bryan Smith slammed the government’s handling of vulnerable children.
“Children under 12 shouldn’t be in residential care. They should absolutely be in family-based care,” he said.
The minister vowed to continue the emergency protocol that’s been in place for years.
“Where possible, we are placing children as a first preference with foster or kin, and as a second preference, we’re transitioning them to licensed providers,” she said.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm. Credit: 7NEWS
In a significant revelation, Camm announced that several for-profit providers of residential care have now been referred to other agencies for misconduct, while others remain under investigation.
The minister has given herself another month to formally respond to the government’s own landmark inquiry into the child safety system.
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