The NSW Government has unveiled new initiatives to tackle child protection among Aboriginal children and youth in the hope of reducing the rate of young people in state care.
The measures, unveiled on Wednesday morning, form part of the Government’s response to the confronting Family is Culture report that was released last year and made 125 recommendations to the NSW Government based on a review of 1144 children and young people who entered care in 2015-16.
The review found the department had failed Aboriginal families and children.
“Listening to Aboriginal communities doesn’t stop here. It’s an ongoing process and we’re committed to open and transparent communication with the sector,” Professor Megan Davis, the review’s author, said.
It is understood Aboriginal children make up about 40 per cent of all children in NSW state care.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said reforms would be Aboriginal-led, adding that a new deputy children’s guardian for Aboriginal children and young people would strengthen “oversight and enforcement powers” by accrediting out-of-home-care providers to ensure a higher standard of practice.
“A strong advocate for Aboriginal children and young people within the Office of the Children’s Guardian underpins our response to the report, which also includes permanent measures to drive better outcomes for children in care,” Mr Ward said.
“The voice of Aboriginal people is at the heart of the Government’s response, and we will continue to work alongside the community and our non-government partners to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people.”
Other key measures include establishing an Aboriginal Knowledge Circle, which will feature five community leaders and sector experts.
Their role is to provide independent advice to Mr Ward and the secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice through regular meetings.
The expert panel will include senior Aboriginal medical practitioner Ngiare Brown, Redfern community leader Shane Phillips, child protection specialist Dea Delaney-Thiele as well as the Aboriginal children’s guardian and a representative from AbSec, the peak body for Aboriginal children in NSW.
An Aboriginal Outcomes Taskforce will also be established within the Department of Communities and Justice to improve data collection and reporting.
Mr Ward said the number of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care had dropped by 35 per cent since 2015-16. However, the number of Aboriginal youth in the system continues to rise.
“Our response to the Family is Culture report will lay a foundation for the way forward as we work hard to keep children with their parents and reduce the number of kids coming into care,” he said.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2020-07-07 22:52:39Z
CBMisQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9uc3ctYWN0L25ld3MvZ292ZXJubWVudC1hcHBvaW50cy1ndWFyZGlhbi10by10YWNrbGUtYWJvcmlnaW5hbC1jaGlsZC1wcm90ZWN0aW9uLWFmdGVyLWRhbW5pbmctcmVwb3J0L25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvYzUzOTkxMTZhNDA4MWM2N2M3ZGRiMTAwMzUxYjVjOTbSAbEBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3LWFjdC9uZXdzL2dvdmVybm1lbnQtYXBwb2ludHMtZ3VhcmRpYW4tdG8tdGFja2xlLWFib3JpZ2luYWwtY2hpbGQtcHJvdGVjdGlvbi1hZnRlci1kYW1uaW5nLXJlcG9ydC9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2M1Mzk5MTE2YTQwODFjNjdjN2RkYjEwMDM1MWI1Yzk2
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Better protections for Aboriginal youth in response to Family is Culture report - NEWS.com.au"
Post a Comment