❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Community Services regarding the Auditor General's report on the Earlier Intervention and Family Support Strategy (EIFS), particularly concerning its effectiveness and regional availability. The Minister responds by outlining ongoing work to address the report's recommendations and asserting the presence of diversion services statewide.
AnsweredQoN 895Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EARLIER INTERVENTION AND
FAMILY SUPPORT STRATEGY
895. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the damning findings in
the Auditor General's report , Implementation of the Earlier
Intervention and Family Support Strategy.
(1) W hat remediation will the minister implement in the
Department of Communities given the Auditor General found that ''The
Department cannot demonstrate EIFS is effectively diverting families from the
child protection system, or preventing children from entering OOHC?
(2) Was the
minister aware that no diversion services were available in the West Kimberley,
Gascoyne, midwest, goldfields–Esperance, wheatbelt and great southern
regions?
(3) Given this
shocking revelation by the Auditor General, why has the government failed to
address these areas of highest need?
FAMILY SUPPORT STRATEGY
895. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the damning findings in
the Auditor General's report , Implementation of the Earlier
Intervention and Family Support Strategy.
(1) W hat remediation will the minister implement in the
Department of Communities given the Auditor General found that ''The
Department cannot demonstrate EIFS is effectively diverting families from the
child protection system, or preventing children from entering OOHC?
(2) Was the
minister aware that no diversion services were available in the West Kimberley,
Gascoyne, midwest, goldfields–Esperance, wheatbelt and great southern
regions?
(3) Given this
shocking revelation by the Auditor General, why has the government failed to
address these areas of highest need?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Community Services.
(1) Communities
is confident that the current work that is underway will address the
recommendations outlined by the Office of the Auditor General. This includes
through the development of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework for
the earlier intervention and family support service system. The MEL framework
will support consistent data and reporting and will better demonstrate the
EIFSS service outcomes. The Auditor General referred to those services as
valuable.
(2)–(3) Communities
works in partnership with the community services sector, delivering a continuum
of support services for families facing complex challenges statewide. There are
diversion services in all regions.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Community Services.
(1) Communities
is confident that the current work that is underway will address the
recommendations outlined by the Office of the Auditor General. This includes
through the development of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework for
the earlier intervention and family support service system. The MEL framework
will support consistent data and reporting and will better demonstrate the
EIFSS service outcomes. The Auditor General referred to those services as
valuable.
(2)–(3) Communities
works in partnership with the community services sector, delivering a continuum
of support services for families facing complex challenges statewide. There are
diversion services in all regions.
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