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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Tuesday, 10 February 2004) . . Page.. 24 ..

In the recently completed review of child protection in South Australia, Robyn Layton QC made recommendations on policy for referral of notification and report systems, mandatory reporting, and the framework and structural issues to improve service delivery. The issues in the ACT have similarities with both those processes and reports. We will be looking to the experience in other jurisdictions, learning from their mistakes and ours and building a better child protection system in the ACT. We will work relentlessly to protect the welfare and safety of our children and young people in the care of the territory and in the community.

I would also like to make a comment about the work of the individual child protection workers in Family Services. The issues with which those frontline staff deal are beyond the experience of many in this chamber. Dealing with abuse and neglect of children in our community places enormous strain on individuals. It must also be said that few in our society put their hands up to work in this field. Right across Australia child protection departments are dealing with staff shortages and issues concerning retention of staff. This government places high value on the work of these professionals. Calls for their sacking should be dismissed out of hand. Whatever the failings of the system and the administration of the act by the department, frontline staff of Family Services perform their task in difficult circumstances.

The department is constantly looking to improve the training of child protection staff through the implementation of the Re-Focus program. We are also continuously looking for committed people to join the Department of Education, Youth and Family Services. That includes advertising nationally and internationally as well as considering changes to the qualifications that are required by persons who are applying for positions in this area. The child protection work force provides an essential role in reforming the system of child protection in the territory. The government values its continuing commitment to securing the safety of children in the ACT.

The recent public interest in our child protection system has also impacted significantly on our local foster carers. I acknowledge the excellent work of ACT foster carers. They are an invaluable source of energy and support to child protection agencies and children in need of their care. In recent weeks I have had several meetings with the Foster Care Association and I know that it is concerned about some perceptions of its role. There is a national shortage of foster carers and we need to deal with these issues carefully. We have the best foster carers in the country—a dedicated team of volunteers who give so much to protect our most vulnerable, often with little recognition.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and I thank them on behalf of the government. It is my sincere hope that the public interest in the child protection system does not impact negatively on the foster care system in the ACT. This government is committed to providing the best child protection system we can. There is no doubt that there is need for improvement. At every stage this government and I, as the minister, have been honest with this Assembly and the community. We have not hidden any information or attempted to diminish the seriousness of the issues that have been presented to us.

We will continue to be honest and open throughout this process. I look forward to working with Assembly members on this issue. I am the minister who is taking

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