Re-envisaging child protection contacts as an early prevention opportunity to support child development and well-being: an Australian data linkage study

Objectives To quantify developmental vulnerability at age 5 by child protection contacts before school in two Australian states. Methods All children with birth, child protection and/or 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA) were grouped according to child protection contact before school: no contact, child protection reports, screened-in reports, investigations, substantiations and out-of-home care (OOHC). The outcome was developmental vulnerability on ≥1AEDC domains or medically diagnosed conditions with support needs at school entry. Results 56 650 (14.2%) NSW children and 12 617 (15.6%) SA children had ≥1 child protection contact before school. Developmental vulnerability on ≥1 domains or medically diagnosed conditions was lowest in the no child protection group (NSW, 21–22%; SA, 24–25%), with progressively higher risk in the child protection report (NSW, 35%; SA, 41–46%) through to the OOHC (NSW, 50–54%; SA, 59–66%) groups in all AEDC years. Developmental risk was higher among children aged <2 years at first contact and those with more reports. Children with only one child protection report before school had approximately 65% higher developmental risk than the no child protection group in both states. Conclusions A single child protection report before school was an early indicator of higher developmental risk at age 5, with higher developmental risks among children with earlier, more serious and frequent child protection contacts. Beyond child safety screening, child protection reports represent an opportunity to mobilise early health and social support for children with developmental support needs.