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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Tuesday, 3 August 2004) . . Page.. 3340 ..

Each reference group has worked cooperatively together, and I would like to thank all those involved in the reference group for their effort and commitment and their willingness to participate. There was a strong commitment in the groups to put in place a service approach that will provide better care and protection for children and young people at risk.

The strategy that I am tabling today shows how the government has been moving to implement the recommendations of the Vardon report. The development of the response to each recommendation has focused around guiding principles which include: establishing a new system that provides care and support for children and young people at risk, their siblings and their families; strengthening accountability measures and developing new governance arrangements, including creating an independent commissioner for children and young people; increasing case-worker and carer numbers and improving caseloads and professional development; enhancing partnering between government and community sector agencies; strengthening community education and awareness about children and young people and child safety; improving service response for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families; expanding prevention and early intervention programs and advocacy services; and strengthening participation of children and young people in decision making that affects their lives.

The government is moving to implement the recommendations as quickly as possible. In some instances the reform process will take longer. Recruitment campaigns are under way, although it is difficult to guarantee that the numbers of qualified people required will be attracted to the ACT. There are other jurisdictions seeking to attract similarly skilled workers.

The government’s response to the Vardon report has been informed by the audit report on child protection from the Commissioner for Public Administration, Cheryl Vardon. A range of recommendations has been made arising from the audit and case review of the files and children in care to 31 December 2003. That report and the government response were tabled earlier today in the Assembly. The tabling of the implementation strategy shows the commitment of this government to keeping the community informed about the outcome of the Vardon report. It reinforces the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.

It is also important to keep the community and the Assembly aware of the ongoing progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the Vardon report. The government intends to provide the Assembly with a progress report on the implementation of the Vardon report recommendations every six months in 2005.

The way forward is challenging but the government accepts these challenges. We have a responsibility to provide high-quality care to children and young people within our community who are at risk. It does take a community to raise a child; the support and involvement of the community are crucial in helping the government establish the reforms that will put children and families first.

Mr Speaker, I commend the implementation strategy for the Vardon report to the Assembly and I move:

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