Jacquie Petrusma: Raising Children in Care in a Safe, Supportive and Nurturing Environment

The Liberal Government is committed to strengthening Tasmania’s child protection system, so it can deliver improved outcomes for children and their families and not let children fall through the gaps.

Yesterday we took another important step in the vital reform of this system by bringing together many current and potential partners and stakeholders involved in Out of Home Care (OOHC) to discuss the Out of Home Care Reform paper; the first stage in the implementation of the new continuum of care.

The OOHC system provides accommodation and therapeutic care to children and young people who are unable to live with their family.

The principle objective of the reform is to improve outcomes for children, reduce demand for OOHC and deliver a system that addresses the needs of children and young people in a planned, structured and sustainable manner.

Growth in the system to cater for increasing demand over the last few years has often seen an ad-hoc approach, lacking strategic direction and stretching resources to capacity. The reform will deliver a system that is planned, coordinated, based on evidence of “what works” and able to respond to the needs of children in care.

Reform of the OOHC system is long overdue. More than eight years ago the first report was issued into the child protection service. Since then more than 600 recommendations contained in over 15 reviews and reports have been released in regard to the child protection system.

Once completed, the reforms will lead to more appropriate placement options and services that are matched to a child or young person’s needs.

Over many, many years the previous government failed Tasmanian children and young people, particularly those in state care. The Liberal Government is committed to delivering the best OOHC system and providing a happy, healthy and supportive environment for our children and young people.

The Out of Home Care Reform Paper is available at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/children/out_of_home_care_reform_in_tasmania
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services