LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
10.11 The
committee recommends that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) include
the following measures in the third action plan (2015-2018) for the National
Framework:
- accountability for
Commonwealth, state and territory governments to ensure compliance with the
objectives of the National Framework;
- practical guidance
for state and territories for implementing the National Standards for
out-of-home care at a local level;
- integrating all
projects under the National Framework with related frameworks including the National
Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 and the National
Drug Strategy 2010–2015; and
- associated funding to
assist the National Framework achieve its stated objectives.
Recommendation 2
10.15 The
committee recommends that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
work with states and territories to address data gaps in Child Protection
National Minimum Data Set (CP NMDS) and other data sets of children in
out-of-home care regarding:
- children and young
people with disability;
- children and young
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
- relationship between
children and young people and their kinship carers;
- role of permanency
planning and permanent care placements for children and young people;
- data collected by
community service organisations; and
- how outcomes for
children and young people in out-of-home care compare with the general
population.
Recommendation 3
10.17 The
committee recommends that AIHW work with states and territories to develop and
implement a data collection project that would provide general data on the
reasons children are placed in out-of-home care, consistent with the
recommendation by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Recommendation 4
10.19 The
committee recommends that COAG review the National Framework to address
recommendations by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities that the National Framework include provisions to protect the
rights of children, particularly those with disability.
Recommendation 5
10.22 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to improve participation by children and young
people in decision making processes, including:
- entry into care
(where appropriate);
- placement decisions;
- family contact and
reunion; and
- transition from care.
10.23 This
project should draw from the findings of AIHW's national survey into views of
children and young people in out-of-home care.
Recommendation 6
10.24 The
committee recommends that COAG develop and implement nationally consistent
powers for independent child commissioners and guardians to:
- review individual
out-of-home care cases;
- address complaints
and concerns by children and young people;
- ensure the voice of
children and young people is heard in all decision‑making processes about
placements and case planning; and
- provide community
visitors to visit all out-of-home care placements.
Recommendation 7
10.29 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework, a project to develop and implement:
- national therapeutic
care standards; and
- an evaluation of best
practice models of therapeutic care across all types of care (drawing from best
practice models in Australia and overseas), with a view to implementing
therapeutic models across all jurisdictions.
Recommendation 8
10.30 The
committee recommends that states and territories increase resources available
to fund therapeutic models of care, based on evidence-based evaluations of
existing and proposed models.
Recommendation 9
10.32 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to integrating child protection and disability services to
ensure children are screened for disability and complex health needs (such as
FASD) and referred to appropriate services, and have access to disability
services throughout their time in care.
Recommendation 10
10.34 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement specific supports for
children and families in UHMs and international kinship care placements.
Recommendation 11
10.36 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to permanency planning. This should include adding a
measure on permanency planning into the National Standards for out-of-home
care.
Recommendation 12
10.42 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop a nationally consistent approach to
legal forms of permanence (including guardianship orders and adoption) that
ensure children maintain connection to their families and carers continue to
receive financial and practical support.
Recommendation 13
10.43 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to consider how to improve access to legally
permanent placements (including guardianship orders and adoptions) for children
and young people in out-of-home care, where these arrangements may provide the
safest and most stable placements.
Recommendation 14
10.45 The
committee recommends that the Department of Social Services, Department of
Human Services and Department of Immigration and Border Protection review
parental consent requirements for identity documents (including passports,
Medicare cards and citizenship) to remove barriers to accessibility for
children and young people in out-of-home care.
Recommendation 15
10.47 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement strategies to improve
health outcomes for children and young people in care, including:
- access to health
services, particularly youth mental health treatment and support services; and
- consideration of
health outcomes in case planning.
Recommendation 16
10.48 The
committee recommends that the Department of Health introduce a separate
Medicare item for children in out-of-home care to improve access to health
assessments and treatment, including mental health.
Recommendation 17
10.51 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to:
- additional education
support for children and young people in out-of-home care; and
- increasing
participation by young people in out-of-home care in education and training
opportunities.
Recommendation 18
10.52 The
committee recommends that states and territories ensure all children in
out-of-home care have updated education plans.
Recommendation 19
10.56 The
committee recommends that AIHW work with states and territories to develop a
data set on outcomes for young people transitioning from care up to 21 years of
age, including the following indicators:
- connection to family
and/or carers;
- education and
employment;
- housing; and
- health (including
mental health).
Recommendation 20
10.57 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent framework for transitioning from care, with a focus on improving:
- health outcomes;
- access to higher
education;
- employment options;
and
- access and support
for securing suitable housing.
Recommendation 21
10.58 The
committee recommends that the Australian Government increase the Transition to
Independent Living Allowance (TILA) for young people transitioning from care.
The committee further recommends that the Department of Social Services review
existing post-care support programs to identify opportunities to assist young
people transitioning from care.
Recommendation 22
10.59 The
committee recommends that states and territories raise the age to which young
people continue to receive ongoing post-care support to 21 years of age.
Recommendation 23
10.64 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent family support framework addressing:
- universal services
targeted at improving the wellbeing of all children and young people;
- secondary
interventions to support children and families at risk of child protection
interventions;
- respite services and
'shared cared' models of support aimed at family preservation;
- evidence-based
evaluations of family support services to determine best practice models; and
- equitable funding
models for family support services.
10.65 The
committee further recommends that this family support framework should consider
the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,
families and children with disability and CALD communities.
Recommendation 24
10.67 The
committee recommends that COAG consider a nationally consistent approach to
funding advocacy and support groups for parents with children in or at risk of
entering out-of-home care.
Recommendation 25
10.69 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to improving participation by children and families in
decision making processes, including Family Group Conferencing and other
alternative dispute resolution measures.
Recommendation 26
10.71 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework the development of nationally consistent mechanisms,
such as independent bodies, for managing complaints from families and
investigating individual cases.
Recommendation 27
10.72 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework the introduction of national accreditation and
registration of child protection workers, including those employed by
government departments and NGOs.
Recommendation 28
10.74 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement nationally consistent
family support services including support for families with contact and
reunification.
Recommendation 29
10.75 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government provide increased
resources for family support services.
Recommendation 30
10.78 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government improve access to legal
and other advice and support available to families in child protection matters
both before and during court proceedings, including through increased funding
for relevant legal assistance providers. The committee further recommends
particular consideration be given to improving access to legal and other advice
and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families experiencing
family violence.
Recommendation 31
10.81 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to building the capacity of Aboriginal community controlled
agencies (ACCAs) to become integrated into all aspects of the child protection
system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including:
- training Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander support workers;
- providing family
support services;
- implementation of the
Aboriginal Child Placement Principle;
- involvement and
responsibility for all decision making processes; and
- delivering out-of-home
care services.
10.82 The
committee further recommends that state and territory governments review
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander overrepresentation in out-of-home care as
a matter of priority and provide additional resources for family support
services to addresses the causes of social disadvantage.
Recommendation 32
10.83 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement mandatory cultural
competence training for all services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
children and families. This training should be delivered by specialised local
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, including those with expertise
working in remote communities.
Recommendation 33
10.86 The
committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
review the adequacy and availability of funding for children with disability at
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) trial sites, including:
- early intervention
funding to support children with disability remaining at home in the care of
their parents; and
- case management
support for children with disability and families with disability to access
family support services to assist children remaining at home in the care of
their parents
Recommendation 34
10.90 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement nationally consistent
financial and practical (including training and case-worker) support for
statutory and informal relative/kinship carers. This should include:
- establishment of a
national peak body for relative/kinship carers;
- accreditation and
training of relative/kinship carers;
- increasing allowances
available to relative/kinship carers; and
- evaluation and
development of nationally consistent best practice models of supported
relative/kinship care.
Recommendation 35
10.91 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to improve the capacity for emergency respite
placements to determine best placements for children and young people.
Recommendation 36
10.93 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children in relative/kinship care, including:
- streamlining
accreditation and assessment process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
kinship carers; and
- implementing the
Winangay kinship resources to improve relationship between carers and child
protection authorities.
Recommendation 37
10.96 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a nationally consistent strategy to support and accredit
foster carers to improve recruitment and retention. This should also address
nationally consistent rates of financial support, case-worker support and
training of foster carers.
Recommendation 38
10.97 The
committee recommends that COAG implement a nationally consistent, best practice
model of professional foster care.
Recommendation 39
10.100 The
committee recommends that COAG include in the third action plan (2015-2018) of
the National Framework a project to develop and implement a nationally
consistent approach to:
- mandatory training
for all residential care workers;
- training
qualifications and allowances for carers (including increasing allowances for
carers); and
- an evaluation how the
role of NGOs in service delivery affects the outcomes for children in care.
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page