By the sound of it... These children are not in foster homes but are actually residing in motels and apartment buildings (this is where DoCS often puts older children).

These protective care accommodation styles are manned by youth workers from agencies that DoCS outsource. Usually it is a 2 person shift with 3 days on and 4 days off and the workers rotate.

Because these youth workers are bound by laws - they are unable to discipline children efficiently. They can not legally stop a child from leaving the premises, they can not force the child to go to school, they can not stop the child from hanging around at shopping centres during school hours and they can not make the child remain in the residence (this list of "can'ts" goes on and on).

In essence - this children are not adequately controlled at all.