Page 2473 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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Noting this, it is inappropriate in this instance to divert resources from priority activities for the purposes of answering the Member’s questions. I do however offer the member a verbal briefing with relevant officials.
Children and young people—mental health services
(Question No 321)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Families and Community Services, upon notice, on 4 June 2021:
(1) Do Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) have any mental health professionals on staff, such as counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc; if so, how many of each are on staff and to whom do these professionals provide services, for example, children and young people, carers, and/or staff.
(2) Who (else) provides professional mental health services to children and young people in the care of the director-general, for example, practitioners employed by the ACT Government, private practitioners, ACT-based practitioners, interstate practitioners.
(3) What processes are used to determine if a child or young person in the care of the director-general requires professional mental health services.
(4) How do CYPS measure the provision of mental health services to children and young people.
(5) How many instances of service provision occurred in each of the past five financial years.
(6) How many children and young people received mental health services in each of the past five financial years.
(7) What was the total cost of providing professional mental health services to children and young people in the care of the director-general for each of the past five financial years.
Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. Melaleuca Place currently has one Clinical Psychologist and one Provisional Psychologist. They provide clinical services to children under 12 and their support networks (e.g., carers, school, case managers), though the child is the client and the recipient of direct therapeutic intervention.
Frontline Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) workers are employed and classified as Child and Youth Protection Professionals (CYPP). Relevant tertiary qualifications for employment in CYPP classifications are Social Work, Psychology, Social Welfare, Social Science or a related discipline. Therefore, CYPS staff may have relevant tertiary qualifications in mental health professions, however, they are not employed to specifically provide these services to young people.
2. Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) works to manage the behaviours of children and young people who pose a risk to themselves and others through close
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