Page 4760 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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There is no denying our care and protection professionals are doing a wonderful job. Of course, that is expected by the community. This work, as I mentioned before, is supported by partnerships that we have forged with many community stakeholders. I must add that we cannot underestimate the benefits that accrue from collaborative practice—that is where the community and government work together on challenges we all face and which have been outlined this afternoon. As you said, Madam Assistant Speaker, we must recognise the efforts of all those that work together in collaboration to tackle this very serious issue in our community, and we must thank them for their work.
Models of collaborative practice are evident across the spectrum of activities across the ACT. It would be good to outline all the initiatives and activities being undertaken; however, we all know that the time allowed for debate on this matter today does not permit us to actually outline all of the different activities that are being done by governments, the community sector and, of course, by parents themselves. I will, however, briefly take the opportunity to mention some initiatives being undertaken with our community partners.
The most rapid and important period of physical brain development occurs in children up to the age of three years. The importance of early intervention and prevention cannot be underestimated. Early intervention is an investment in the future of our children, families and the community, as Ms Burch has already said. To this end, the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support has implemented a number of groundbreaking initiatives, including IMPACT, turnaround, integrated family support and PAC, which means protecting Australia’s children. IMPACT is the integrated multi-agency for parents and children together program—I think IMPACT is much easier to say—and it is important that we realise what that program does. The program highlights the success of multiple community and government agencies collaborating to provide streamlined referral and support services to families. Another outstanding initiative is the integrated family support project, which provides help to children up to eight years of age and their families through a collaborative and integrated service delivery model.
These investments provide building blocks for families and children to develop resilience to the challenges they are faced with. Investments in early action which support families in practical ways hopefully prevent adverse outcomes, including child abuse and neglect. All of us are here because we value our community, including our children and our young people. In saying that, I acknowledge that it is the responsibility of governments to provide the essential support structures and services. But it goes further than that. It requires all Australians to acknowledge that child abuse and neglect happens, as sobering and as disturbing as this fact may be. Through the work of numerous government departments, community organisations, and valuable foster and kinship carers, we can protect Australia’s children. We must protect Australia’s children.
I thank the newest member for Molonglo—you, Madam Assistant Speaker—for proposing this matter of public importance today. I commend the government on its commitment to continuing to work on this issue; that is, protecting the ACT’s children
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