Page 3078 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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intervention; it is about meeting immediate needs in our community; it is about providing special care for Indigenous children and young people, doing our best for children with complex needs; it is about reforming services with better integration; and it is about helping every kid in this city feel like they fit in.
The centrepiece of the 2009-10 budget for children and youth is an $11 million commitment for children and young people in out-of-home care. Over the last five years, the number of children in care has increased steadily. Children and young people are staying longer in care and their needs have become more complex. This $11 million funding boost will directly respond to this demand. The money will establish intensive therapeutic services for children and young people with very complex problems. The money will also be used to provide advocacy and support for grandparent and kinship carers facing unexpected challenges when they take on the care of a family member.
An additional $20,000 is provided to the Youth Advisory Council to assist them with their activities and consultation processes to ensure young people’s voices are heard. I am also very pleased that, as a result of a partnership with the Australian government, a third child and family centre will be built in west Belconnen. In total, more than $6 million will be spent on developing the centre over the next six years.
There is also a one-off injection of $162,000 towards repairs and maintenance of government-leased community facilities, including childcare centres. New childcare standards have also been introduced and, for the first time in many years, we have achieved full staffing in care and protection services.
The one recommendation from the estimates committee that was not agreed by the government relates to the reporting recommendation on the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. The reason the government does not believe that this is necessary is that there are already adequate and robust reporting procedures in place. The reporting requirements for the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre are clearly defined in the Children and Young People (Records and Reporting Policy and Procedures) Regulation 2008 No 1. This is a notifiable instrument made under the Children and Young People Act, section 143, and is one of a number of comprehensive policies and procedures which are available as part of the youth justice operating procedures. And this document specifically addresses requirements for the recording of information related to operations at a detention place, including statutory requirements to record information in registers, report certain incidents affecting safety and security to higher administrative authorities and oversight persons and agencies.
So in addition to the reporting requirements within the department, there is also a range of oversight bodies, including the Public Advocate, the human rights commissioner and the Official Visitor, who has a right or requirement to visit Bimberi and meet with young people and inspect registers. The Official Visitor must visit the centre at least fortnightly, in accordance with section 39 of the act. The Public Advocate is required to inspect the register of searches and use of force at least once every three months. The Legislative Assembly, through legislation, provides public officials to conduct this work. And let me put on the record that I have full confidence in these oversight bodies and my department to report appropriately and in a timely fashion on issues of concern.
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