The number of reports of Territory kids who were allegedly abused or neglected surged to more than 30,500 last financial year, a new report from the Children’s Commissioner shows.

The report also found that of the 30,538 notifications, less than a third of necessary investigations were completed within the applicable deadline and that 75 per cent of cases occurred while the child was in state-based care, including home-based care, foster care and detention.

The figures also show that Aboriginal children make up 91 per cent of kids in care and an overwhelming 95 per cent of minors in juvenile detention centres.

More than 70 per cent of the reports of abuse were connected to emotional abuse and neglect, and around 10 per cent were for sexual abuse of a child.

The 30,538 figure of reports is up from 28,304 reported in 2020-21.

The NT Child Deaths’ Review and Prevention Committee’s annual report also exposed that 101 child deaths between 2017 and 2021 were victims who had earlier filed abuse reports to the Department of Territory Families.

The report found that 35 of those kids – aged between 10 and 17 years old – died due to external factors interpreted as “dysfunction as a result of domestic violence, alcohol and other drugs, mental illness, or involvement in the criminal justice system”.

The Children’s Commissioner’s report also showed that 23 juveniles who were staying in out-of-home care encountered harm, with 30 per cent of the cases involving sexual exploitation of a child, with the majority of offences occurred in state-based care.

“While it is good news that fewer Territory children were living in out-of-home care in June 2022 … there are improvements needed to keep Aboriginal children connected with their family, language and culture,” acting Children’s Commissioner Nicole Hucks said.

“Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that more than 60 per cent of NT children are still not being placed by the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principals, and over half of Aboriginal children in care do not have cultural support plans.”

Ms Hucks said that despite Aboriginal kids making up 95 per cent of the population in detention centres, there are no Aboriginal family-led decision-making programs in the Territory.

“There is not one program that the department delivers that ensures that Aboriginal family-led decision making is achieved,” she said.

Of the grievances made to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner last year, 83 per cent were related to youth detention abuses, resulting in an inquiry into the treatment of kids inside the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre which is yet to be finalised.

“Steadily rising numbers of children locked up in the Territory, coupled with rising numbers of complaints received by the OCC regarding the treatment of children in detention show the urgent need for commitment to evidence-based practice when it comes to youth justice,” Ms Hucks said.