Four Corners exposed the neglect and abuse occurring in privately-run residential care facilities where the most vulnerable children in our society live. 

Stop private providers profiting from misery. Sign our Petition

As state and territory governments have privatised residential child protection facilities over the past few decades, it has become big business – for profit and not-for-profit providers alike.

Four Corners exposed the price-gouging of providers such as Life Without Barriers, Premier Youthworks, and Safe Pathways who can charge governments up to one million dollars per child in care.

This money does not trickle down to the children, however, with cases of children not receiving enough food or clothing, or other supports such as therapists or clinicians.

The money does not trickle down to staff, either, with reports of underpayments of staff, inadequate training and support, and dangerously low staffing levels.

It is time for state and territory governments to step up and take responsibility for the duty of care they have for these vulnerable children.

Since 1997, there have been more than 40 inquiries into child protection.

The time for inquiries is over. In light of abuse, neglect, and cost-gouging of these private providers exposed by Four Corners, state governments can no longer outsource their responsibility to provide safety for these children.

CPSU is calling on all state and territory governments to immediately end the contracts with private providers and move all child protection residential care back into public hands.