Page 1409 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 May 2015

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MR GENTLEMAN: A step up for our kids is an end-to-end reform representing a major departure from current practice. This requires significant cultural change for the sector and indeed for our community. A procurement process is underway for delivery of services under this strategy and we are already working extensively with the government and non-government sectors to develop an approach which, over time, will develop the skills and capacity of the sector.

We will upskill the sector to deliver appropriate therapeutic trauma-informed care and services. A tender process to procure training has just closed and we will roll this out over the next 18 months. This will deliver training to people who are engaged in the lives of children and young people in care, or at risk of entering care. Again, we have listened to the community and we will initially prioritise training for kinship carers, whose experience of coming into caring arrangements can be very different from that of foster carers. We will also include foster carers, government and non-government staff in the rollout of training to develop a common understanding of the impact of trauma and how this can be applied in practice. This training will build on the comprehensive program of workforce training and development that already exists.

We acknowledge the need for high level collaboration, joint governance and a shared focus on quality practice across the sector. Joint panels and arrangements will be established, bringing key stakeholders together to create a community of practice and support robust decision-making.

These changes go to the heart of providing our workforce and carers with the means to step up for vulnerable children and young people. I look forward to updating members on further milestones as we roll out a step up for our kids.

Mr Barr: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Legislative Assembly—unparliamentary language

MADAM SPEAKER: During question time Mr Coe raised a point of order about the term “Muppet”, which has not been used by anyone in this chamber today, as I understand. But for the information of the Assembly, on 10 December 2008 Mr Rattenbury ruled that the term “Muppet gallery” should be withdrawn, and it was. On 14 November 2007 Mr Berry ruled that “Muppets” was unparliamentary and should be withdrawn, and it was. The former Deputy Speaker on 7 August 2013 ruled that “old Statler and Waldorf up the back there” be withdrawn. For the information of members, the Muppets are well and truly covered in the procedures of this place, but I remind members that the ruling on whether something is unparliamentary depends on the context.

Supplementary answer to question without notice

Housing—public

MS BERRY: I want to clarify that the development application for Nicholls has been extended to 8 May and the development application for Chisholm has closed.


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