Page 1333 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
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Madam Speaker, the third priority is to advocate for the importance of the rights of children and young people. Children and young people’s rights are key if we are to provide the platforms from which children and young people can grow and reach their potential. Earlier this week, I spoke in this place about the government’s commitment in this space as it relates to ensuring that children and young people in out of home care are able to have a say about decisions that affect them. This is recognised as a basic human right according to article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them is a critical component of the ACT’s five-year strategy: A step up for our kids—one step can make a lifetime of difference. This is collected through the use of the Viewpoint survey, which is offered to children aged eight to 17 years who are in out of home care. Children are able to self-report that they have opportunities to have a say in decisions that have an impact on their lives in the areas of wellbeing, family, friendships and connections, and other topics.
As I have said before, I am committed to ensuring that we continue to improve how we hear the voices of children and young people in care. For example, feedback from a youth round table held late last year is already informing the refresh of the ACT’s charter of rights for kids in care. In undertaking this work, the Community Services Directorate is specifically considering how the feedback from young people who are currently in care, or who had been in care, can be used to promote the rights of all children and young people in care.
The fourth priority is to keep children and young people safe and to protect them from harm. Through A step up for our kids, the ACT government has also made a significant investment in prevention and early intervention for children and families. A step up for our kids places a strong emphasis on preventing children and young people from entering care, reunifying them with their families where it is safe to do so, and on moving children into permanent family settings as quickly as possible when they cannot return home.
Keeping children and young people safe and protecting them from harm is also a key aim of the safer families package, which continues to guide the implementation of commitments made in the ACT government response to domestic and family violence. This package is delivering more services in new ways, bringing family violence out of the shadows and ensuring that those experiencing it can get the help and support they need.
This work also links to the fifth priority, which is to build strong families and communities that are inclusive and support and nurture children and young people. This priority reflects the fact that positive community connections are strong predictors of a successful life. If we get it right early, we have an opportunity to set children and young people up to lead fulfilling, healthy and happy lives.
This is the core business of our child and family centres. These are one-stop shops supporting families during the early years of their children’s lives. The centres provide integrated service delivery, with child and family support services provided
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