First published on the ABC website

A new study has found abuse of Indigenous children in the Northern Territory has doubled in the period between 2007 and 2008 compared to the previous year.

The report from the Institute of Health and Welfare also shows Indigenous children were six times more likely to be abused than non-Indigenous children.

The new figures show that while child abuse has fallen in some states, the Territory has recorded the country's biggest rise.

The report found that:

• In 2007-2008, the abuse of Territory children under 16 was 1.2 per cent, up from 0.9 the year before;
• the rate of abused Indigenous children was 2.4 per cent, compared to 1.7 per cent the year before; and
• Territory children younger than 12 months were the most common age group to be abused, at 2.5 per cent, the highest rate for that age group across the nation

Neglect was the most prevalent form of abuse against Indigenous children in the Northern Territory, while emotional abuse was the most common form against non-Indigenous children.

The Northern Territory also recorded the highest percent of physically abused Indigenous children compared to other states.

But the Territory had the lowest rates of Indigenous children on care and protection orders across the nation.

Three hundred and twenty one children were admitted to care and protection orders during the period, with 87 per cent of those admitted for the first time.

Most abuse was reported by police or hospital and health centres.