Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach To Child Wellbeing
Child Protection Reform in New South Wales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW
'The Wood Report'
In November 2007, following the shocking deaths of two children, the NSW Government issued a commission for a major inquiry into the state’s child protection system, led by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice James Wood.
On November 24, 2008, Justice Wood handed down the findings from his Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in New South Wales in an extensive report containing 111 recommendations.
The Wood Report can be accessed here:
- Executive Summary and Recommendations
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Volume 3
Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection in NSW
- ACWA's submission to the Inquiry (13 February 2008)
- ACWA's supplementary submission (1 September 2008)
- Click here for other submissions received by the Inquiry |
^^TOP |
|
|
Child Protection: It's Time For ACTION - A safe childhood is every child's right
ACWA's campaign to support the reform
On 19 December, 2008, ACWA launched 'Child Protection: It's Time For ACTION- A safe childhood is every child's right'.
This campaign was initiated in the wake of the Wood Report, to ensure the NSW Government
remained firmly committed to child protection reform.
ACWA welcomed the report handed down by retired Supreme Court Judge James Wood AO QC.
The report is viewed as a blueprint for positive reform to a system deep in crisis.
ACWA called for the report to be implemented in its totality* - as ‘a framework for change’, and asked that the Government adequately resource the recommendations, whilst taking into account priorities and the interrelations
between the recommendations.
To achieve the objectives stated in the report, there needs to be a commitment that extends beyond
the election cycle that will enable the implementation of long-term recommendations. And genuine
partnership and consultation pathways between the Government and the Non-Government sector
need to be fostered.
As part of the Campaign, our members and the general public were encouraged to write to their local member in support of the recommendations contained in the Wood Report.
ACWA Position Papers
- Position Paper for the Child Protection Advisory Group Meeting (20 January 2009)
- Implementation of the Recommendations (February 2009)
ACWA Wood Forums
19 December 2008
- Proceedings from ACWA Wood Report Forum at the Y Hotel
- Summary only
28 January 2009
- Proceedings from the ACWA Wood Report Forum at the Y Hotel
- Summary only
20 February 2009
- Notes from Southern NSW Wood Forum (in Wagga Wagga)
27 February 2009
- Notes from Northern NSW Wood Forum (in Lismore)
|
^^TOP |
|
|
Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing
On March 3, 2009, the NSW Government released its response to the Wood Report, entitled:
Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing.
Media Releases (at the announcement of Keep Them Safe)
Hide Expand
Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing can be accessed here:
- Executive Summary
- Full Report
- ACWA's summary of Key Actions in 'Keep Them Safe'
- NSW Department of Community Services 09/10 Budget (powerpoint presentation) 16 June 2009
- Keep Them Safe Budget (powerpoint presentation) 16 June 2009
Government Consultation Process: Advisory Groups and Committees
To consult with stakeholders, the NSW Government has formed 3 advisory groups.
i) Child Protection Advisory Group (CPAG)
A forum for peaks to address high level policy and implementation issues
ii) Service System Advisory Group (SSAG)
A forum representing DoCS-funded services with a focus on service system issues
iii) Community and Carers Advisory Group (CCAG)
A forum representing service user groups and carers to address matters relevant to those specific areas
Further Information
For more information on the consultation process, please visit:
NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
NSW Department of Human Services, Community Services
Cross Sector Forums
ACWA in collaboration with AbSec, CREATE Foundation, FamS, LCSA, NCOSS and YAPA held a series of cross sector forums on the Wood Inquiry and the “Keep Them Safe” Action Plan. These forums provided an opportunity to discuss the combined role that the different community sector peaks will play to ensure a smooth and responsible implementation of child protection reforms in NSW.
7 May 2009
- Media Release
- Brief Summary
10 June 2009
- Forum Proceedings
21 August 2009
- Agenda
- Presentation on Regional Intake and Referral Service, NSW Health
- Presentation on KTS implementation, Department Premier and Cabinet
- Family Support Services, FamS
- FamS Bulletins |
^^TOP |
|
|
Regional Engagement Tour
The Regional Engagement Tour was a series of 11 forums held at different locations around the state during September and October 2009. The forums enabled justice and human services workers to hear directly from senior government and non-government representatives about the Keep Them Safe reforms and the impact they will have on their agencies and communities.
The tour was an initiative of the NSW Government in partnership with the non- government sector and coordinated by the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA).
Over 1500 participants attended the forums, held in: Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Wollongong, Queanbeyan, Campbelltown, Armidale, Penrith, Dubbo, Broken Hill, and Wagga Wagga.
- Materials and resources from the forums can be accessed at the Keep Them Safe website (www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au)
- ACWA's report on the evaluation of the Regional
Engagement Tour (pdf file)
|
^^TOP |
|
|
'Keeping Accountable' Campaign
'Keeping Accountable' is a campaign launched by the 'Keep Them Safe Peaks' that includes ACWA, AbSec, CREATE Foundation, FamS, LCSA, NCOSS and YAPA. The aim of this campaign is to ensure that the implementation of the reforms continue and that milestones are met according to the stated timeframes and that these are consistent with the Keep Them Safe Action Plan and the Wood Report.
ACWA have developed two documents that will assist in monitoring the progress of the implementation of Keep Them Safe and the recommendations in the Wood Report.
- KTS and Wood Recommendations (Last Updated: 08/01/10) - This excel spreadsheet is a 20+ page document that lists all of the recommendations from the Wood Report and correlates it to the Keep Them Safe Action Plan.
- Implementation of KTS by date (Last Updated: 08/01/10) - This excel spreadsheet is a 4-page document that lists the implementation actions. It is listed by ascending deliverable date order, where known).
To assist us to keep these documents up-to-date, please return this completed form to keepingaccountable@acwa.asn.au
|
^^TOP |
|
|
Useful Links
Keep Them Safe website
http://www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au
Human Services Net
http://www.hsnet.nsw.gov.au
Community Services, NSW Dept of Human Services
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au
Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care State Secretariat (NSW)
http://www.absec.org.au
Council of Social Service of NSW
http://www.ncoss.org.au
CREATE Foundation
http://www.create.org.au
Local Community Services Association
http://www.lcsa.org.au
NSW Family Support Services Inc. (FamS)
http://www.nswfamilyservices.asn.au
Youth Action and Policy Association
http://www.yapa.org.au
|
^^TOP |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
