Page 900 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 April 1994

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AND INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS REGARDING SERVICES TO CHILDREN, AND TO ENSURE THAT CHILDRENS RIGHTS ARE RECOGNISED AND PROTECTED. THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING AND RECORDING NOTIFICATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND FOR INITIATING COURT PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE.

IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR OF FAMILY SERVICES RECEIVES NOTIFICATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE. THE DIRECTOR INVESTIGATES THESE NOTIFICATIONS, PROVIDES ASSESSMENTS AND UNDERTAKES ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT FOR CHILDREN TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES AND SERVICES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND PROTECTION. THE DIRECTOR OF FAMILY SERVICES IS NOT, HOWEVER, RESPONSIBLE FOR INITIATING COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE EXISTING LEGISLATION SPECIFIES CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR BUT DOES NOT DEFINE ANY SPECIFIC ROLE OR RESPONSIBILITIES.

MADAM SPEAKER, THE FAILURE OF THE LEGISLATION TO CLEARLY

SPECIFY ONE AUTHORITY AS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD

PROTECTION HAS BEEN OF CONCERN TO BOTH AGENCIES. THE

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATIONS AND INITIATING

COURT PROCEEDINGS ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE SYSTEM. THE

FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATE HAS THE FINAL DECISION IN

INITIATING COURT PROCEEDINGS IMPLIES THAT THE POSITION ALSO

HAS RESPONSIBILITIES IN CASE OUTCOMES AND CAUSES CONFUSION

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