Auditor-general's report delivers damning findings on child protection in NSW
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Auditor-general's report delivers damning findings on child protection in NSW

ABC  

In short: The New South Wales auditor-general has reported that the state's child protection system is "inefficient, ineffective, and unsustainable". The New South Wales auditor-general has reported that the state's child protection system is "inefficient, ineffective, and unsustainable". The New South Wales auditor-general has criticised the Department of Communities and Justice in damning report on the state's child protection system. "For the sake of vulnerable children in families right across NSW, we are determined to fix the broken child protection system that we inherited," Ms Washington said.

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History of this topic

Childcare failures putting children at risk
2 weeks ago

Childcare failures putting children at risk

ABC  

Sabra Lane: Good morning, welcome to AM, I'm Sabra Lane, coming to you from Nipaluna, Hobart. Sabra Lane: Four Corners has uncovered systemic failures in Australia's $20 billion a year childcare industry. Andrew Greene: But inside the Labor Party's rank and file, a grassroots campaign urging the government to scrap the AUKUS nuclear submarine endeavour is intensifying, following recent actions …

Former child protection chief claims he was made to feel like a ‘sellout’ after apologising to First Nations families
2 months ago

Former child protection chief claims he was made to feel like a ‘sellout’ after apologising to First Nations families

ABC  

A former deputy leader of South Australia's Child Protection Department says he was made to feel like a "sellout" who had betrayed his workplace, after he publicly apologised to Aboriginal families whose babies had been removed at birth. Mr Reilly said there were broader cultural issues within the department, claiming it was structured under a "two-class system" and there was …

South Australia's Department of Child Protection did not inform some families of intent to remove babies before birth, review finds
7 months, 2 weeks ago

South Australia's Department of Child Protection did not inform some families of intent to remove babies before birth, review finds

ABC  

Emma* always wanted to be a mum. South Australia's Department for Child Protection has apologised over claims of "indefensible" practices of removing newborns from First Nations mothers shortly after birth. The Department for Child Protection is often prompted to remove a baby after it receives so-called "unborn child concerns" – notifications made by the public during a woman's pregnancy. SA's …

Aboriginal children 'unnecessarily' removed from families, communities in SA, report finds
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Aboriginal children 'unnecessarily' removed from families, communities in SA, report finds

ABC  

In short: SA's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People found that in a single calendar year, one-in-two South Australian Aboriginal children are reported at least once to child protection authorities, and one-in-10 are placed in out-of-home care. South Australia's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People says First Nations children's rights are being "trampled on" by what she describes …

Families of alleged child sex abuse victims engage lawyers to seek potential compensation, calls to strengthen child protection
1 year, 7 months ago

Families of alleged child sex abuse victims engage lawyers to seek potential compensation, calls to strengthen child protection

ABC  

Abuse allegations against a child care worker revealed by Operation Tenterfield this week compelled governments to do more to strengthen child protection, Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford says. Mr Crawford said the Queensland government was committed to establishing a reportable conduct scheme, as recommended by the child abuse royal commission in December 2017. The alleged paedophile was involved in photography …

Child Protection Department failed to investigate 'high-risk matters' relating to two families
1 year, 9 months ago

Child Protection Department failed to investigate 'high-risk matters' relating to two families

ABC  

South Australia's ombudsman has found the state's child protection department failed to properly respond to more than 90 notifications about two families for more than a decade, despite reports of potential violence, substance abuse and neglect. Key points: The SA ombudsman launched an investigation into the Department for Child Protection in 2022 His report focused on the department's response to …

SA Department for Child Protection case notes system crashing, putting children at risk, PSA says
2 years ago

SA Department for Child Protection case notes system crashing, putting children at risk, PSA says

ABC  

South Australian child protection staff say vulnerable children may be at greater risk because the case-management system they are using keeps crashing. Key points: The department uses software called C3MS to keep track of case notes and other information Some staff say it was inaccessible on two days last week but the department say it was not entirely unusable The …

Former kids in child protection system speak out about how the state failed them as a guardian
2 years, 4 months ago

Former kids in child protection system speak out about how the state failed them as a guardian

ABC  

Taken from their families due to the risk of harm, Australia's most fragile children are raised by the state instead. "Someone in my case notes once described me — and this is a really difficult thing to say — she described me as an 'oversexualised three-year-old' in my behaviours," Claudia said. "Plans cover a range of needs and include connection …

More struggling families are being reported to South Australia's child protection authorities since COVID-19, expert says
2 years, 8 months ago

More struggling families are being reported to South Australia's child protection authorities since COVID-19, expert says

ABC  

The number of South Australian families in the child protection system has grown since COVID-19 began, putting pressure on already stretched services, according to an expert in vulnerable families. WARNING: This story contains content that some readers may find upsetting Key points: Six-year-old Charlie dies in hospital from suspected neglect Her five siblings have been removed from the Munno Para …

Attorney-General, minister 'deeply concerned' by 'horrific' findings of ABC's child protection investigation
2 years, 9 months ago

Attorney-General, minister 'deeply concerned' by 'horrific' findings of ABC's child protection investigation

ABC  

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth say they are "extremely concerned" by the findings of a nationwide ABC investigation that revealed children were being raped and neglected in government care. Key points: More than 700 people came forward as part of a nationwide ABC investigation into child protection, many making shocking allegations of abuse and neglect …

Child protection system failing vulnerable kids across Australia as case workers speak out
3 years ago

Child protection system failing vulnerable kids across Australia as case workers speak out

ABC  

On a lounge in a caravan park, a woman lies "spaced out". Annabel says some of Australia's most vulnerable children are left in "unsafe" situations because understaffed departments "don't have the capacity to get to them". The judge was "not satisfied" there was evidence Diane couldn't care for Ben, insisting that the department increase the contact between the mother and …

Children in care at risk from new lockdown rules with demand for review of ‘unjustified’ cuts
4 years, 9 months ago

Children in care at risk from new lockdown rules with demand for review of ‘unjustified’ cuts

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Children in care are at risk from “unjustified” rules that have …

NSW child protection system failing; funding for intervention 'inadequate': report
8 years ago

NSW child protection system failing; funding for intervention 'inadequate': report

ABC  

A new report has found the NSW child protection system is failing generations of children, four months after the State Government promised to introduce "world-class reforms" to the sector. The report found that is inadequate and has recommended a one-off injection for "evidence-based prevention and early intervention services". "Child protection is difficult and now we are embarking on world class …

NSW Deputy Ombudsman criticises state's 'hodgepodge' child abuse monitoring system
8 years, 1 month ago

NSW Deputy Ombudsman criticises state's 'hodgepodge' child abuse monitoring system

ABC  

One of Australia's most senior child protection bureaucrats has expressed concern with the way governments monitor incidents of child abuse within religious institutions. NSW Deputy Ombudsman Steve Kinmond runs a watchdog scheme in his state that checks how schools, churches, childcare and foster care agencies handle complaints of child abuse. "So while NSW is probably the most advanced state with …

Failure to protect Tasmanian children common to both sides of politics
8 years, 3 months ago

Failure to protect Tasmanian children common to both sides of politics

ABC  

The names and faces change but the problem seems to be the same — the system is not doing enough for Tasmania's most vulnerable children. Tasmania's former children's commissioner Paul Mason is not surprised issues with child protection are still coming to light. The systems of child protection in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania haven't changed a lot," he said. …

Child protection: Calls for bi-partisan support for system overhaul, as former foster kids speak out
8 years, 9 months ago

Child protection: Calls for bi-partisan support for system overhaul, as former foster kids speak out

ABC  

Former foster children have spoken out about what they see as a dysfunctional system that does not prepare children for adulthood, and to raise families of their own. Former NT children's commissioner Dr Howard Bath authored the 2010 Growing Them Strong, Together report, which found a system in crisis, struggling to cope with a "tsunami of need". Former NT children's …

Children in care should not face prosecution for minor offences, urges report
8 years, 10 months ago

Children in care should not face prosecution for minor offences, urges report

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Young people in care should not be prosecuted for minor …

Triage system for at-risk Tasmanian children under major revamp of child protection services
9 years ago

Triage system for at-risk Tasmanian children under major revamp of child protection services

ABC  

Child protection services in Tasmania would no longer be the first point of contact for community members raising concerns about at-risk children, under a major revamp to be unveiled today. Key points: Child protection services no longer first point of contact Concerns about at-risk children to be triaged by new service Service reviewed after 150 notifications ignored Funding expected for …

More than half ignored child protection notifications involved allegations of family violence
9 years, 6 months ago

More than half ignored child protection notifications involved allegations of family violence

ABC  

The details behind the 151 missed child protection notifications in Tasmania's north-west have been revealed, with more than half shown to be allegations of family violence. The notifications were made to child protection authorities on the state's north-west coast in late July, but they were not followed up until last month. Reports may have been a 'police matter': minister Human …

Children's advocate welcomes 'unprecedented' child protection review
9 years, 7 months ago

Children's advocate welcomes 'unprecedented' child protection review

ABC  

Children's Commissioner Mark Morrissey has welcomed an ''unprecedented'' review of Tasmania's child protection system, in the wake of a failure uncovered in the north-west. He expects the review will consider how mental health services, family violence services and welfare organisations can work better with the child protection system. We focus on child protection when things go wrong but there's a …

Human Services Minister not told about child protection failures for weeks, Parliament hears
9 years, 7 months ago

Human Services Minister not told about child protection failures for weeks, Parliament hears

ABC  

Pressure is mounting on Tasmania's Human Services Minister to explain why her department took weeks to inform her of a major failure in child protection services. Labor casts doubt on minister's version Labor's human services spokeswoman Rebecca White said it was "unbelievable" the union was informed days before the Minister. "Particularly as I was told at that briefing that the …

SA's child protection system labelled 'fundamentally flawed'
10 years, 7 months ago

SA's child protection system labelled 'fundamentally flawed'

ABC  

CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: The credibility of South Australia's child protection system lies in tatters. Now documents obtained by 7.30 show long delays in investigating the abuse of Aboriginal children, adding yet more weight to the view of one expert that the state's child protection edifice is fundamentally flawed. ALEX MANN: Dr Leah Bromfield is a child protection expert and has …

From care to crime: fixing child protection
12 years, 9 months ago

From care to crime: fixing child protection

ABC  

It is not every day that I find myself described in the media as an "anti-child removal and pro-family preservation campaigner". At less than half a per cent of the NSW child population, children in care are 68 times more likely to appear in the Children's Court than other children. My research found that the care system itself contributed to …

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