❓ Hon Peter Foss questions the Minister regarding child welfare agencies' capacity, assessment of child deaths, and the reluctance to introduce mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse in light of unusual child deaths. The Minister provides information on review criteria, rationale for not introducing mandatory reporting, and processes for handling child deaths.
AnsweredQoN 1741Legislative Council
Asked
4 March 2004
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women's Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister’s statement on
Stateline ABC
September 5 2003 that Western Australia’s Child Welfare Agencies are ‘stretched’ -
(1) Can the Minister give assurances that the 32 child deaths ‘not tagged’ for investigation by the Child Death Review Committee were adequately assessed by child welfare workers in the first instance?
(2) If so, what is the basis of that assurance?
(3) Has the Minister stated that one of the reasons the Government is reluctant to introduce mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse is that in Western Australia we have such excellent inter-agency reporting that mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse is not warranted?
(4) If so, is the Minister concerned about this statement in the light of the 52 West Australian children that died in unusual circumstances in the first six months of 2003?
(5) How many cases of child deaths in unusual circumstances have been referred to the Coroner since June 30 2003?
(6) How much are the members of the Child Death Review Committee paid and how often do they meet?
Stateline ABC
September 5 2003 that Western Australia’s Child Welfare Agencies are ‘stretched’ -
(1) Can the Minister give assurances that the 32 child deaths ‘not tagged’ for investigation by the Child Death Review Committee were adequately assessed by child welfare workers in the first instance?
(2) If so, what is the basis of that assurance?
(3) Has the Minister stated that one of the reasons the Government is reluctant to introduce mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse is that in Western Australia we have such excellent inter-agency reporting that mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse is not warranted?
(4) If so, is the Minister concerned about this statement in the light of the 52 West Australian children that died in unusual circumstances in the first six months of 2003?
(5) How many cases of child deaths in unusual circumstances have been referred to the Coroner since June 30 2003?
(6) How much are the members of the Child Death Review Committee paid and how often do they meet?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 March 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Community Development, Women's Interests, Seniors and Youth
Response time
27 days
2. The Senior Operational Policy Officer – Child Protection, a senior officer of the Department, who has extensive field experience, recommends a review on the basis of the following criteria: · The deceased child, young person or other children in the deceased child’s family have been subject of an allegation of child maltreatment or a child concern report within the past 24 months. · The deceased child’s family has had a number of contacts with the Department for Community Development within the past 24 months and an emerging pattern is indicated. · The deceased child was in the care of the Department for Community Development or a request for Departmental involvement in an out of home placement for the child or young person had been made within the past 24 months. The Minister or Director General can request that the Committee undertake a review of a case where a child known to the Department has died and that contact falls outside the above guidelines. 3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
· The deceased child, young person or other children in the deceased child’s family have been subject of an allegation of child maltreatment or a child concern report within the past 24 months. · The deceased child’s family has had a number of contacts with the Department for Community Development within the past 24 months and an emerging pattern is indicated. · The deceased child was in the care of the Department for Community Development or a request for Departmental involvement in an out of home placement for the child or young person had been made within the past 24 months. The Minister or Director General can request that the Committee undertake a review of a case where a child known to the Department has died and that contact falls outside the above guidelines. 3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
The Minister or Director General can request that the Committee undertake a review of a case where a child known to the Department has died and that contact falls outside the above guidelines. 3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
· The deceased child, young person or other children in the deceased child’s family have been subject of an allegation of child maltreatment or a child concern report within the past 24 months. · The deceased child’s family has had a number of contacts with the Department for Community Development within the past 24 months and an emerging pattern is indicated. · The deceased child was in the care of the Department for Community Development or a request for Departmental involvement in an out of home placement for the child or young person had been made within the past 24 months. The Minister or Director General can request that the Committee undertake a review of a case where a child known to the Department has died and that contact falls outside the above guidelines. 3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
The Minister or Director General can request that the Committee undertake a review of a case where a child known to the Department has died and that contact falls outside the above guidelines. 3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
3. I have stated that Governments have not introduced mandatory reporting in Western Australia because the research evidence is that it is not efficient or effective in protecting children. Western Australia has progressed an alternative model of building the understanding and commitment of responsible agencies to play their part in protecting children and referring to statutory agencies. 4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
4. The death of any child in any circumstances is tragic. 5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
5. The Department for Community Development does not refer any child deaths to the Coroner. The Coroner notifies the Department of all reportable deaths as defined under the Coroner’s Act 1996 where a child or young person is under the age of 18 years. 6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
6. Committee Members are paid sitting fees of $150 per half day or less and $220 per full day. The Committee Chair receives $220 per half day or less and $330 per full day. The Committee meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.
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