Why develop National Standards?

The Australian Government, state and territory governments and the non-government sector are developing National Standards to ensure children in need of out-of-home care are given consistent, best practice care, no matter where they live.

Each state and territory government has a duty of care, and invests a great deal to ensure that the out-of-home care system within its jurisdiction provides the opportunities for optimal development and wellbeing of children and young people in care.

Each state and territory government has its own legislative and policy framework governing and regulating its child protection system. Most jurisdictions also already have standards for out-of-home care. While there are some common elements, there are also areas of diversity in the maturity, focus and range of standards for out-of-home care systems between states and territories, including a complex history of development, system structure and legislative framework.

Although all governments are working to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care, the practices, processes and outcomes are diverse when trying to create a national picture of outcomes for children in care.

The National Standards seek to drive improvements in the quality of care so that children and young people in out-of-home care have the same opportunities as other children and young people to reach their potential in life wherever they live in Australia.