Page 2653 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 11 August 2015
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Allied to these changes the ACT government has this year allocated significant investment to transform the way in which we support our community’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families. We are investing $38.9 million over four years in the out of home care system, including $16 million in new services and reforms through the implementation of “A step up for our kids—one step can make a lifetime of difference”.
A step up for our kids addresses the challenges that child protection and out of home care services around the country are facing, such as increasing numbers of children and young people entering care, significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care, poor life outcomes for young people leaving care, a need for more carers, an ageing profile of kinship carers, and the need to create more financially sustainable systems.
Through a step up for our kids we are creating a network of support that has an enhanced focus on early intervention, provides more individualised support to children, young people, families and carers and ultimately helps children and young people lead better lives. Since the strategy was announced in January we have been carrying out work to prepare for its implementation from 2016. Procurement for services and advocacy services is well underway and we have carried out extensive consultation with all those involved to discuss the service transformation we seek to achieve. The funding allocated in the 2015-16 budget to a step up for our kids will see us implement these changes.
We are undertaking a major reform of out of home care. I expect that through this reform we will begin to see significant evidence of change for children, young people and their families over the coming years.
The ACT government is also investing to support the workforce behind a step up for our kids. The government is investing $5.3 million over four years to develop a purpose-built information and record-keeping system. This new client information system will replace the legacy systems used by Child and Youth Protection Services. This system will improve support for vulnerable children and young people by simplifying access and reporting for caseworkers and increasing information security. Additionally, the system will streamline information sharing and provide government and community sector partners with the information they need, at the right time, to appropriately support children and young people.
Sharing knowledge and improving safety for children and young people have also been a key focus of the Children and Young People Death Review Committee. The committee reviews all child deaths in the ACT, considers any trends and patterns arising and makes recommendations that may contribute to preventing future child deaths. The ACT government will continue to support the committee’s vital work with funding of $391,000 over two years.
We know Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are overrepresented in the care and protection and youth justice systems. The ACT government is stepping up to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
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