Allegations of abuse on children living in Victorian state care have skyrocketed as the state government awaits another report into the troubled system.

Latest figures show 322 incidents of abuse, including 76 of sexual nature, were reported within the state child protection and family services system from January to March.

The quarterly data takes the number of abuse reports to 1277 over the year to March compared to 801 during the same span three years earlier, a rise of almost 60 per cent.

Some 2837 vulnerable children were also waiting for a case worker over the three-month period to March, including 906 in Victoria’s west, 818 in the south and 613 in the north.

More data, provided by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in response to budget estimates questions, confirms about 463 full-time equivalent child protection positions were vacant as of May 30.

Child Protection and Family Services Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said the government was funding more child protection workers through a $895 million investment in the May state budget.

“The exploitation of children in out-of-home care by perpetrators in the community is unacceptable – all allegations are immediately referred to Victoria Police and the children involved are given every support,” she said.

“All children involved with child protection are assigned to a team and overseen by a team manager who has overall responsibility for reviewing, monitoring and managing cases within their team, including allocation decisions.”

In December, Ms Blandthorn became the fifth Victorian minister to be appointed to the portfolio in about 14 months.

Problems within the child protection system were highlighted in a series of reports last year and further exposed in recent hearings at Victoria’s Indigenous truth-telling inquiry, the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

A critical issues report from the commission into systemic injustice within the child protection and criminal justice systems is due to be handed to the government by the end of August.

Premier Daniel Andrews had flagged plans to bring reforms before parliament to address child protection, youth justice and bail issues in the first half of this year but legislation is yet to be introduced.

Opposition child protection spokesman Matt Bach said a revolving door of ministers had delayed critical reforms and investments in the system.

“Victoria’s most vulnerable children continue to be let down by the Andrews government, who have put vital reforms of this system in the too hard basket,” Mr Bach said.

“The rates of abuse and neglect of vulnerable children in the care of the state are simply shameful.”

– AAP