Page 1387 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 3 May 2016
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We recognise the importance of promoting the best interests of a child or young person in out of home care and ensuring the integrity of the care system. While these amendments will enable the delegation of decision-making for children and young people in care, I would like to highlight that this change will not be implemented for another 12 to 18 months. This will allow time for the sector to mature and expand and for an accountability framework to be established.
Under a step up for our kids we are putting in place additional safeguards to enhance oversight, accountability and transparency to ensure a high functioning care system. We are building a framework that supports a stronger, safer, more sustainable out of home care system to improve the outcomes for our community’s most vulnerable children and young people.
To achieve this, we are undertaking work to develop the capacity and capability of the sector, both government and non-government, to protect the integrity of the service system and to ensure the sector can adequately support the increased level of responsibility held by approved kinship and foster care organisations. Some key elements of this work include improved regulation and oversight, new governance arrangements, performance-based contracting and incentives for service providers, and establishment of independent advocacy support services.
This bill also seeks to simplify processes and reduce red tape by allowing the delegation to prepare, consult on and review transition plans from the director-general to the responsible person for an approved kinship and foster care organisation or a residential care service. This amendment complements the delegation of annual review reports to the responsible person of an approved kinship and foster care organisation, which was enacted by the Children and Young People Amendment Bill 2015 (No 3).
Under a step up for our kids we are implementing a number of changes that provide better support for young people as they transition to adulthood. In support of this, I propose to enact changes to allow easier access for young people to protected information about themselves and access to personal items which may be held by an approved kinship or foster care organisation.
A small number of other minor and technical amendments are also included in this bill to improve the administration of the Children and Young People Act. These are detailed in the bill and in its accompanying explanatory statement. I propose that this bill will also enact minor policy amendments to the Adoption Act 1993, which will clarify the interpretation of the act, thereby supporting pathways to permanency. These amendments are minor and technical in nature and will improve the clarity of adoption applications being considered by the Family Court. This will prevent any delays in the adoption process relating to ambiguous language in the act.
Through a step up for our kids we are addressing the major challenges faced by out of home care services, creating a more sustainable system and, most importantly, helping children and young people take a step up for their lives. This Children and Young People Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 will give effect to this significant reform, improving outcomes for our community’s most vulnerable children and young people and giving them a better opportunity to live full, happy and productive lives.
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