Hon. Sally Talbot questions the lack of Responsible Parenting Agreement applications by the Department of Corrective Services. The Attorney General, representing the Minister, responds highlighting collaborative efforts with the Department for Child Protection and Family Support.

AnsweredQoN 405Legislative Council
Asked
9 April 2014
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

RESPONSIBLE
PARENTING AGREEMENTS — DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES APPLICATIONS
405. Hon SALLY TALBOT to
the Attorney General representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the provisions in the Parental Support and
Responsibility Act 2008 under which an application for a responsible parenting
agreement may be made by the CEO of the Department of Corrective Services.
(1) Why were no applications for agreements made by the
department in the last two years?
(2) Has the
Minister for Corrective Services or the Department of Corrective Services
discussed with the Minister for Child Protection or the Department for Child
Protection and Family Support the need for other mechanisms to facilitate the
use of agreements by the Department of Corrective Services?
(3) If yes to (2), what are these other mechanisms?
(4) If no to
(2), is the minister considering other options for increasing the relevance of
responsible parenting agreements as a way of helping families needing parenting
support?

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the Minister for Corrective Services, I thank
the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Corrective Services has formed strong working relationships with
the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, including co-locating
child protection parent support workers with Youth Justice Services in several
offices. These staff are able to take out responsible parenting agreements.
(2) Yes.
(3) The
Department of Corrective Services contributed to the Department for Child
Protection and Family Support's review of the Parental Support and
Responsibility Act 2008. This review will improve the way in which responsible
parenting agreements are undertaken and strengthen the collaborative case
management and working relationships between the Department of Corrective
Services and the Department for Child Protection and Family Support.
(4) Not applicable.

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