The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is to scale up initiatives aimed at increasing the number of adoptions and guardianships through the establishment of a Permanency Taskforce.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the 2021-22 Budget included a $12 million allocation for the DCJ initiatives and Taskforce to “turbocharge” the open adoption and guardianship process.
“A permanent and loving home is the foundation for a happy and healthy life and this investment will help make open adoption or guardianship a reality for more kids,” Mr Perrottet said.
He said the funding would enable a significant increase in the promotion of open adoption and guardianship to raise awareness of the life-changing benefits of a permanent home.
Mr Perrottet said NSW was leading the nation in providing permanency for children in out-of-home care, accounting for almost 99 per cent of all open adoptions from care in Australia last financial year, 2019-20.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Alister Henskens said the dedicated Permanency Taskforce would change lives for the better.
“The Taskforce aims to fast-track the number of matters progressing through the open adoption and guardianship pipeline and in doing so, boosting the number of children exiting out-of-home care into permanent homes,” Mr Henskens said.
“Government will also enhance support for prospective adoptive parents and guardians by establishing a new information hotline, providing free online courses, face-to-face training and counselling services,” he said.
