Page 5364 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

CALLAGHAN REPORT: ILLUSIONS AND REALITIES: RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDRENS PROTECTION AND CARE IN THE A.C.T

I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE REPORT

TITLED ILLUSIONS AND REALITIES: RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDRENS

PROTECTION AND CARE IN THE A.C.T.

THIS REPORT HAS BEEN THE OUTCOME OF A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF

SUBSTITUTE CARE SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN AT RISK

CONDUCTED BY SYDNEY BASED CONSULTANTS BRUCE CALLAGHAN AND

ASSOCIATES. IT WAS COMMISSIONED IN NOVEMBER 1989 BY COMMUNITY

WELFARE BRANCH WHICH WANTED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICE DELIVERY BY BOTH BRANCH AND NON

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DELIVERING SUBSTITUTE CARE PROGRAMS.

DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY IN SEPARATING OUT SUBSTITUTE CARE

SERVICES FROM OTHER AREAS, THE CONSULTANTS TOOK A BROAD VIEW

OF THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE

BREADTH AND SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORTS RECOMMENDATIONS.

AT THE TIME OF THE REPORTS RELEASE ON 20 JUNE 1990, I STATED

THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE THE BASIS FOR CONSULTATION

WITH STAFF, NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND UNION GROUPS.

5364