Child abuse 'a huge problem for Australia'

Child health care workers say new figures showing an increase in child abuse cases presents a huge problem for Australia which must be addressed.

The figures from the Institute of Health and Welfare show there were 55,000 substantiated cases of abuse in 2005-2006 - a rise of 10,000 on the previous year.

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in the past five years in the number of children removed from their family home by authorities.

Dr Sue Packer has been working as a community paediatrician in the ACT since 1990 and says almost all the parents she meets want to do a good job.

But she says the new statistics are a concern.

"I think it's really enforcing for me that child abuse is a huge problem for Australia, it's something that I'm myopic about because of my work but it really is out there and it really is a problem," she said.

Child abuse 'a huge problem for Australia'