Page 2256 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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They coordinate existing services and can provide fully integrated case management on a whole-of-government basis. This puts them at the forefront of the move to a collaborative practice in the provision of human services, particularly to clients with complex needs.
In conclusion, and by way of example, I refer to the groundbreaking work being undertaken by the child and family centres and the child protection cervices in the Office of Children, Youth and Family Support. Recent child deaths in the ACT have put a focus on prevention and early intervention services in the ACT, specifically for children in the nought to two years of age group.
A pilot project is under way that aims to implement an early intervention model for working with high risk and vulnerable children and their families who have come to the attention of care and protection services. It is a voluntary program for families. High risk and vulnerable children are defined as children under the age of two whose personal safety may be compromised by a range of individuals, as well as a range of parental, social, psychological and structural factors. These factors may include: children in families that have experienced domestic violence; parents with postnatal depression; parents with mental health illness and/or drug and alcohol addictions and parents and families that are isolated. Issues with regard to the safety of children in the care of their parents will be discussed openly and respectfully.
The pilot will attempt to provide a seamless service to families based on the guiding principles of the children’s plan, that is, principles of prevention and early intervention, with a focus that is child centred, family and community focused, collaboratively and well coordinated, strength and evidence based and inclusive and accountable. The child and family centres represent only one aspect of this government’s commitment to early childhood development. However, they and their staff are at the leading edge of health and early intervention services and are making a major contribution to the health and wellbeing to the children and their families it the ACT.
MR SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.
Members—code of conduct
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (4.02): Before Mr Berry moves his motion on the notice paper, I seek leave to move a motion.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes the provisions of section 15 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 relating to conflict of interest and those of standing order 156 which provide that the Assembly may decide how those provisions may be applied;
(2) notes that Ms Porter has an employment contract with a family member; and
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