26 September 2023

Inter-agency approach to reframe care

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The Minister for Child Protection has announced a new inter-agency framework aimed at improving outcomes for young people in residential care.

Minister Luke Donnellan said the new approach would look to reduce the amount of contact young people in residential care had with the criminal justice system.

“Many young people in residential care have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma,” Mr Donnellan said.

“Which makes them more likely to present with risk-taking behaviours such as self-harm, aggression, substance abuse and other activities that place them at high risk of contact with police and the youth justice system,” he said.

“This new framework addresses the need for a collaborative and multi-agency approach to reduce risk of young people in residential care coming into contact [with] the criminal justice system.”

Mr Donnellan said the framework would reduce criminalisation by providing a decision-making guide for residential care workers when considering the need for police intervention, as well as ensuring responses to young people in care were trauma-informed and focused on harm minimisation.

He said the framework would also include: the development of behaviour support plans for all young people in residential care; workforce training to improve responses to young people’s behaviour; and would acknowledge the importance of connection to community and culture.

He said the framework was a collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria Police, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.

Mr Donnellan said supporting organisations included: Victoria Legal Aid; the Commission for Children and Young People; CREATE Foundation; Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service; and Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance.

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