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SACOSS reacts to Gov’s Nyland response: still some question marks over early intervention

SACOSS welcomes today’s response by the government to the Nyland Child Protection Systems Royal Commission report.

We commend the openness of the approach taken by government in tabling their response and encouraging its close consideration by the community and stakeholders. We welcome the chance to consider the Children and Young People (Safety) Bill 2016 before it reaches the Parliament and we trust there will be opportunities to build sincere bipartisan support going forward in reforming our child protection system.

Ross Womersley, SACOSS CEO, said, “It is absolutely critical that as we move on child protection we strengthen the capacity of all families to care for their children across the state. This is the only way in which we can be sure to stem the flow of kids into our system." 

"This means that in addition to fixing so many parts of our existing system we must make deep investments in all those areas which drive the need for kids to be protected in the first place."
 
"While the government has acknowledged this by announcing $45m for early intervention programs, it’s not yet clear what is envisaged and whether all these resources will flow into those activities as a priority. We wholeheartedly agree that families who struggle to care for children for whatever reason, must be able to get the support they need urgently to do better, so their family situations don’t deteriorate to the point where children must be removed.  

"At the very same time we must make sure that where children simply can’t remain with their biological parents, we find the closest approximation possible - a genuinely safe and stable home life.”

SACOSS welcomes the commitments to trialling new child and family assessment and referral networks which we hope will encourage early engagement of families who need assistance.

While there are details to be finalised, these networks could become an important frontline in ensuring appropriate early intervention, with the capacity to direct resources where they are needed. 

Ross Womersley said, “But just like the new Child Wellbeing Officers within schools, these networks must not become referral highways but should be able to engage with families, identify gaps in access to needed support, build collaborative effort across agencies and thus work to improving the wellbeing of children in their communities."

"It is of course vital that these networks are a collaborative effort between government and NGOs.”

“There are also a number of areas around which we need to have some brave conversations. For example we should contemplate whether mandatory reporting really helps to prevent child abuse or whether it redirects resources that could be used more effectively.

"We need to consider how we can support the Aboriginal community to work to stem the flow of children into the child protection system.  

"We also need to contemplate whether simply addressing many of the stresses and deprivations that come with poverty, might result in massive changes to the trajectory of kids’ lives.” 

Published Date: 
Tuesday, 29 November 2016