A parliamentary question addresses the safety of children identified as high-risk in a review, inquiring about their placement in care and the support provided to those not taken into care. The Minister provides a detailed response outlining actions taken to ensure child safety.

AnsweredQoN 1010Legislative Council
Asked
2 November 2006
Portfolio
Community Development

QuestionView source ↗

“ENSURING CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SAFETY ARE HEARD” REPORT
I refer to the report titled “Ensuring concerns about children and young people’s safety are heard”. The review found that eight out of 40 children were at high risk, that there were significant issues that required follow-up, and that there were serious concerns for their safety. The reviewers were of the opinion that all eight children could potentially be taken into the care of the chief executive officer. (1) Were any of these eight children taken into care? (2) If yes, how many? (3) If no to (1), what supports were put in place to ensure these children did not remain in a high-risk category? Hon KATE DOUST

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(1) Were any of these eight children taken into care? (2) If yes, how many? (3) If no to (1), what supports were put in place to ensure these children did not remain in a high-risk category? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(2) If yes, how many? (3) If no to (1), what supports were put in place to ensure these children did not remain in a high-risk category? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(3) If no to (1), what supports were put in place to ensure these children did not remain in a high-risk category? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(1) Yes. (2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(2) Of the eight cases, two children were taken into care. (3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.
(3) Although the department has not taken the children involved in the eight cases into the care of the CEO, a range of actions have been taken to ensure the safety of children, including the following: two children have been placed with other family members in the eastern states; intensive psychological and treatment services are being provided to two children; regular home visits have occurred for all children residing in their parents’ care to monitor their safety; urgent safety assessments are being completed for two children, and it is expected that a decision will be made this week about whether the department will seek a protection order; children, parents and other family members are being referred to the appropriate services - for parents with alcohol or drug-related addictions, regular monitoring of their attendance at drug rehabilitation services is occurring; financial assistance and intensive family support is being provided to one family; and the department has initiated proceedings in the Children’s Court for several children to ensure their protection and ongoing safety.

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