Page 4497 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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Mr Ramsay: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
The Review of child protection decisions in the ACT discussion paper was released for public consultation on 6 May 2019. Following an extension of the consultation period, consultations closed on 28 June 2019. This was an open consultation process, targeted at those who provide support and advocacy for children and young people. Among the submissions received were submissions from individuals with lived experience of the care system.
The Minister for Children, Youth and Families will report back to the Assembly by the last sitting day in March 2020 regarding: how the voices of children and young people have been included in the consultation process; the progress and outcomes of the review and the consultation processes; and what steps will follow.
As part of the consultation process, the Minister for Children, Youth and Families wrote to key stakeholders, inviting feedback on the issues raised in the discussion paper and offering them an opportunity to meet with the independent consultant.
Amongst the submissions received were submissions from individuals with lived experience of the care system. Submissions were also received from: the CREATE Foundation, the peak organisation representing the voices of children and young people with an out of home care experience; and the Children and Young People Commissioner, as part of the Human Rights Commission, who is an expert in engaging with and reflecting the voices of children and young people.
Further, CREATE Foundation staff and representatives of the CREATE Young Consultants program met with the independent consultant during the review period to provide their views on the issues raised in the discussion paper. CREATE Young Consultants are young people with a lived experience of out of home care in the ACT who work with CREATE Foundation to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard, and their perspectives are included in decision-making.
This Review is just one way the ACT Government can engage with those individuals involved in the care system. Other mechanisms include direct engagement with organisations and forums such as: the Human Rights Commission including the Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner; the ACT Youth Advisory Council; the Youth Coalition of the ACT; ACT Youth Assembly; CREATE Foundation; Carers ACT; local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations; and disability advocacy organisations.
Children and young people—reportable conduct
(Question No 2770)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 27 September 2019:
(1) How many adult Canberrans currently know about the new “failure to report” offence and what their obligations under this law are.
(2) What steps did the ACT Government take to inform adult Canberrans of their obligations under this law before it went into effect.
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