Page 416 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 February 2020
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workforce, we have seen a reduction in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering care. In 2018-19, 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entered care, compared with 50 in 2017-18 and 59 in 2016-17. Does this still represent unacceptable overrepresentation? Absolutely it does. But it also indicates progress and provides a reason for hope that change is not just possible but happening, and happening thanks to our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and organisations.
Work is underway across CYPS to build cultural proficiency and capacity. Staff have participated in the cultural development program, which includes a course developed by AIATSIS as well as on-country visits and training delivered by SNAICC on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principle.
Last year I joined CYPS staff for an Aboriginal cultural safety masterclass with Professor Richard Frankland which raises awareness of cultural load and how this can impact decisions and behaviours, particularly in times of crisis. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designated senior practitioner within CYPS will further build this capacity and expertise.
On the advice of the Our Booris, Our Way review, CYPS is working to embed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principle across its work. The principle recognises the importance of connections to family, community, culture and country, and child and family welfare legislation, policy and practice.
SNAICC, the national voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, recently reported that CYPS has demonstrated significant recent engagement with improving compliance in all elements of the principle. This is a substantial achievement and a recognition of new ways of working to keep children safe and connected to family and culture.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, what else is the ACT government doing to strengthen the child protection system?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Cheyne for her supplementary question. Out-of-home care is a critical last resort response when children and young people cannot live safely at home. The ACT government’s out-of-home care strategy, A step up for our kids 2015-2020, articulates the importance of a therapeutic response and has invested in a service system that can deliver this for children and young people who have experienced significant trauma in their young lives.
The midyear budget review has invested in, under the more support for out-of-home care measure, an initiative for a specialist therapeutic response called the sanctuary model. The model creates a safe, non-violent environment and relationships that teach young people to cope more effectively with stress and trauma. It seeks to alter maladaptive coping mechanisms and destructive responses while encouraging constructive stress management habits. The sanctuary model is a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service to young people who require the most intensive of service responses.
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