Out of sight: Systemic inquiry into children and young people who are absent or missing from residential care was tabled in the Parliament of Victoria on Thursday 24 June 2021. The inquiry was established on 4 March 2020, due to concern over the very high number of young people who continue to be absent or missing from residential care, as seen through our incident monitoring function and through our past inquiries.
The Commission is particularly concerned about the connection between the children and young people going missing from care and their experience of victimisation, including as victims of sexual exploitation.
Read about progress on the recommendations of this inquiry in 2023–24.
Read about progress on the recommendations of this inquiry in 2022–23.
Download the summary or full report.
Read the media release.
Terms of reference
The inquiry into young people who are absent or missing from residential care has the following terms of reference:
- To identify the reasons why children and young people go missing or are absent from residential care
- To develop a better understanding of the harm that children and young people suffer when they are missing or absent from residential care
- To identify and recommend changes to policy, practice, legislation or the provision of services to:
- reduce the number of incidents or children and young people going missing or absent from residential care
- reduce the harm suffered when a child or young person is missing or absent from residential care
- improve support to children and young people when they return to residential care
- improve monitoring and oversight mechanisms to track changes over time.