The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is seeking community feedback on a plan to establish an independent oversight of organisations to prevent child abuse.
In a statement, the Department said the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse detailed numerous instances of children reporting abuse where they were either not believed or no action was taken.
“In response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission, the Department is leading work to develop a system of independent oversight to improve child safe cultures and practices in organisations, including how organisations deal with complaints and allegations of child abuse,” the Department said.
“This work has included the development of a Green Bill to establish a reportable conduct scheme.”
It said the scheme would ensure all instances and allegations of child abuse in applicable organisations were reported to an independent body, which would assist the organisation in responding to the reported incident.
Minister for Child Protection, Simone McGurk said the community had a right to expect that children were safe within the organisations trusted to protect, educate, care and nurture them.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that all members of our community, but especially our children, are safe, strong and able to achieve their full potential,” Ms McGurk said.
“To ensure our oversight system best supports the community, I encourage peak bodies, child-related organisations, parents and care-givers and children and young people to have their say.”
Details of the consultation, including how to provide comment on the Green Bill, is available at this PS News link.
