The NSW Government has released its response to the independent Family is Culture review, promising changes to the out-of-home care (OOHC) system to better protect Aboriginal children and young people.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Gareth Ward said the review was commissioned to examine the increasing number of Aboriginal children and young people in OOHC.
Mr Ward said a new Deputy Children’s Guardian for Aboriginal Children and Young People is to be appointed to strengthen the oversight and enforcement powers facing OOHC providers and ensure practices are of a higher standard.
“A strong advocate for Aboriginal children and young people within the Office of the Children’s Guardian underpins our response to the report, which also includes permanent measures to drive better outcomes for children in care,” Mr Ward said.
“The voice of Aboriginal people is at the heart of the Government’s response and we will continue to work alongside the community and our non-government partners to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people,” he said.
Mr Ward said an Aboriginal Knowledge Circle would also be established comprised of community leaders and sector experts, who would provide advice to the Minister and Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), about how to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children in OOHC.
“DCJ will also establish an Aboriginal Outcomes Taskforce to drive improvements in services and supports for Aboriginal families, data collection and reporting, casework policy and practice, and interagency coordination,” the Minister said.
Mr Ward thanked Megan Davis and her team for their work on the Review.
The Government’s five-page response to the Family is Culture, Independent Review of Aboriginal Children and Young People in OOHC can be accessed at this PS News link.
