Page 1286 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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That the Assembly take note of the following papers:
A Step Up for Our Kids—Snapshot Report—A presentation of data covering—1 July 2017 to 31 December 2021.
Our Booris, Our Way—Review—Six Monthly Update (July 2021 - December 2021), dated May 2022.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Families and Community Services and Minister for Health) (3.03): I am pleased to present the third combined six-monthly progress reports for the government response to the recommendations from the Our Booris, Our Way review six-monthly update, and A Step Up for Our Kids out of home care strategy 2015-20 snapshot report.
Over the last six months the government has been working closely with the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee to progress key recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way review. The committee has continued to provide valuable insights into how we can improve the way in which government engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the child protection system and, most importantly, how government can provide early support for vulnerable families at risk of entering the child protection system.
It is only by listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that we can break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage. We must continue to focus on ensuring that children and young people can stay safe at home wherever possible and remain connected to culture and community throughout their life.
In the 2020-21 budget the government invested almost $4.9 million to implement Our Booris, Our Way, bringing the total investment from 2018-19 to 2023-24 to $15.7 million. This funding will help to drive systemic change to ensure at-risk Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the ACT are safe and able to thrive.
Today’s report provides an update to the ACT community on the progress being made against each recommendation. The report is the third six-monthly update and outlines activities and achievements from 1 July to 31 December 2021. Some of the key activities during the period include consultation undertaken by the Jumbunna Institute on the design of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s commissioner, including community dialogue sessions and individual interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and individuals in the ACT and Wreck Bay. Additional to this consultation, in December 2021 the Justice and Community Safety Directorate began recruitment for an interim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families advocate role, which will operate while co-design for the commissioner is finalised and the process of establishing this position is completed.
The government has directed SNAICC, the national peak body, to consult with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community on how best to enact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principle in the Children and Young People
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