Six children in Victoria’s child protection system died within three months, most aged under two years old, while hundreds of instances of abuse have been reported.

It means 20 children known to child protection died in the 12 months to the end of September, according to quarterly data released by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

Details and specific ages of children who died have not been made public but they include those reported by family service providers as well as those with known medical conditions, who were born prematurely or attributed to sudden infant death syndrome.

There were 286 instances of abuse from July 1 to September 30, which includes allegations of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

A further 224 reports were classified as ‘other incident types’ which includes self-harm or suicide attempts, injury, poor care or an absent child, while there were another 70 reports of dangerous or disruptive behaviour.

Opposition child protection spokesperson Roma Britnell said the state’s most vulnerable children were suffering further trauma in a system that “utterly failed them”.

She called on Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn to resign unless the situation is fixed, as she questioned why there were so many instances of abuse and deaths under state care.

“The families of children who have died in state care or were known to child protection deserve to know the reasons why their child has died or been subjected to an incident of abuse whilst in care,” Ms Britnell said.

“The Liberals and Nationals call on the minister to fix this crisis in child protection of failure to protect the most vulnerable in its care.

“If she cannot, she should take responsibility and resign.”

A spokesperson for the Victorian government said last year’s budget included the single biggest investment in care services in a decade to improve outcomes for children and young people in residential care.

“The death of any child is a tragedy and the safety and wellbeing of children is at the centre of everything we do,” they said.

“Over the last five years, we’ve invested $4 billion to strengthen child protection and family services and we’ve recruited more child protection workers on the frontline than ever before.”

They also pointed towards “landmark legislation” that came into effect earlier in the year which puts Aboriginal services in charge of decision making and services for Aboriginal children.

The child protection system came under sharp focus at the The Yoorrook Justice Commission, which made 46 recommendations in an interim report 12 months ago.

Commission chair Eleanor Bourke said earlier in October she was “beyond disappointed by the lack of action” from government, hitting out at what she described as not nearly enough progress.

-AAP