There are calls to improve early intervention strategies for children and young people with health and development issues, including those here in Sunraysia.
It comes as a new report reveals the total cost of late intervention has surged to more than $22 billion each year, that’s around $2,700 for every child and young person in Australia.
It found the greatest costs are being experienced in the child protection system, as well as youth crime and unemployment.
The 47 per cent rise in spending from $15.2 billion when the last COLI study was published in 2019 significantly exceeds both inflation and population growth, highlighting the urgent need for a national shift toward early intervention strategies.
The new report reveals the largest share of late intervention spending is on child protection at $10.2 billion, a 72 per cent increase since 2019, while spending on family violence has more than doubled in the same period.
Youth crime and unemployment make up the second and third most costly line items respectively.
NSW has the highest overall late intervention expenditure at $6.4 billion, followed by Victoria ($5.3 billion) and Queensland ($5 billion).
However, per capita spending is highest in the Northern Territory at $2,808, nearly triple that of South Australia ($1,011) and significantly more than Queensland ($921).
More details can be found at: https://www.thefrontproject.org.au/impact-foundry/research/the-cost-of-late-intervention
Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/against-light-summer-silhouette-7572922/
