Page 1897 - Week 06 - Thursday, 30 July 2020

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Children and young people—breach of court order complaints
(Question No 3185)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Children, Youth and Families, upon notice, on 3 July 2020:

(1) How many complaints have been received by Child and Youth Protection Services regarding breach of court order allegations for each financial year for the past 10 years.

(2) How many complaints have been received by the Children and Young People Commissioner regarding breach of court order allegations for each financial year for the past 10 years.

Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) does not record complaint data to this level of specificity. If concerns are raised in relation to a perceived breach of a court order, this may occur directly with the case management area, an application may be filed with the Childrens Court by the affected party, or the affected party may choose to report the alleged breach to police.

2. Advice has been sought from the Justice and Community Safety Directorate. It is understood that the Human Rights Commission does not keep this data and therefore information cannot be provided.

Children and young people—parental support services
(Question No 3187)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Children, Youth and Families, upon notice, on 3 July 2020:

(1) Is the Red Cross Birth Family Advocacy Support Service funded to “support parents when their child has been removed and they want some assistance to access appropriate support services”, as originally envisioned in A Step Up; if not, why not; if so, does this include providing assistance to access mental health counselling support services for those needing them.

(2) What is the current waiting time for birth parents to access the Red Cross Birth Family Advocacy Support Service and how many parents/families are on the waiting list.

(3) What responsibility, legal or otherwise, does the ACT Government have to provide appropriate support services to birth parents who have been negatively impacted or traumatised by the removal of a child or children.

Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. As part of A Step Up for Our Kids, the Birth Family Advocacy Support Service is funded to assist birth families involved in the child protection system by offering


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