❓ Dr. Honey asks the Minister for Child Protection about establishing a safe house for at-risk children in Carnarvon, citing concerns about children out of school and on the streets at night. The Minister responds by outlining existing child protection measures and planned resource allocation, including the Target 120 program.
AnsweredQoN 431Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AT-RISK CHILDREN — CARNARVON
431. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Child Protection:
Before I ask my question, I also
want to recognise the pending retirement of the member for North West Central. I respect the commitment to his electorate that he
has demonstrated, and also his good companionship and fellowship . He
will be sorely missed in this place.
The SPEAKER : Member, I think
you need to start your question now. Thank you.
Minister,
during my visit to Carnarvon two weeks ago, I noticed many children who were
not at school in the middle of a school day. I am also informed by
members of the local community that many children are out on the streets late
at night. I understand that there are night-time patrols for children. However,
there is no dedicated safe house where those
children can safely be cared for. Will the minister's government
support the Carnarvon community and establish a safe house for at-risk
children in Carnarvon?
431. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Child Protection:
Before I ask my question, I also
want to recognise the pending retirement of the member for North West Central. I respect the commitment to his electorate that he
has demonstrated, and also his good companionship and fellowship . He
will be sorely missed in this place.
The SPEAKER : Member, I think
you need to start your question now. Thank you.
Minister,
during my visit to Carnarvon two weeks ago, I noticed many children who were
not at school in the middle of a school day. I am also informed by
members of the local community that many children are out on the streets late
at night. I understand that there are night-time patrols for children. However,
there is no dedicated safe house where those
children can safely be cared for. Will the minister's government
support the Carnarvon community and establish a safe house for at-risk
children in Carnarvon?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question.
I do not know how much the member
understands about the current child protection legislation; I imagine not a lot
judging from the question that the member has asked. If there are concerns for
a child or young person who is being harmed
or at risk of being harmed, the police have the powers now to safely manage
that child or young person . There is also an opportunity to contact
child protection workers in the district; or, if they are not available after
hours, there is a crisis line, which does come through to Perth but does the
job, similar to an emergency line, where after-hours
staff are then contacted and made available if they need to present and assist
police with accommodation or any sort of care for those children or
young people. There are after-hours options available in Carnarvon, as there
are throughout regional Western Australia.
We
have worked hard. In fact, I met with the shire president, Eddie Smith, and
some other community representatives not that long ago in my ministerial
office and they talked about some of their ideas and some of the issues they
are trying to address. I think the title of their work is ''Carnarvon
intensive family and community intervention''. I think they have met with a number of different
ministers. We were happy to relay to them the announcement in the budget of the extension of Target 120, which is a juvenile justice early intervention
program that has been very successful. That
will be rolled out to Carnarvon. We now have our regional executive director of
the Department of Communities located in Carnarvon and dedicated child
protection staff in Carnarvon. At the moment, we are looking at how we will
allocate the additional 36 FTE child protection staff that we committed to in
the budget. Carnarvon is certainly a consideration for putting in more
resources.
I do not doubt that there are
issues on the ground in Carnarvon. A number of child protection and domestic
violence incidents are reported to us in that area. I understand that it is an
issue, but the member needs to understand that there are laws and systems in
place to ensure that if children or young people are on the streets after hours
and are unsafe, there are opportunities for police and other authorities to
contact child protection staff.
question.
I do not know how much the member
understands about the current child protection legislation; I imagine not a lot
judging from the question that the member has asked. If there are concerns for
a child or young person who is being harmed
or at risk of being harmed, the police have the powers now to safely manage
that child or young person . There is also an opportunity to contact
child protection workers in the district; or, if they are not available after
hours, there is a crisis line, which does come through to Perth but does the
job, similar to an emergency line, where after-hours
staff are then contacted and made available if they need to present and assist
police with accommodation or any sort of care for those children or
young people. There are after-hours options available in Carnarvon, as there
are throughout regional Western Australia.
We
have worked hard. In fact, I met with the shire president, Eddie Smith, and
some other community representatives not that long ago in my ministerial
office and they talked about some of their ideas and some of the issues they
are trying to address. I think the title of their work is ''Carnarvon
intensive family and community intervention''. I think they have met with a number of different
ministers. We were happy to relay to them the announcement in the budget of the extension of Target 120, which is a juvenile justice early intervention
program that has been very successful. That
will be rolled out to Carnarvon. We now have our regional executive director of
the Department of Communities located in Carnarvon and dedicated child
protection staff in Carnarvon. At the moment, we are looking at how we will
allocate the additional 36 FTE child protection staff that we committed to in
the budget. Carnarvon is certainly a consideration for putting in more
resources.
I do not doubt that there are
issues on the ground in Carnarvon. A number of child protection and domestic
violence incidents are reported to us in that area. I understand that it is an
issue, but the member needs to understand that there are laws and systems in
place to ensure that if children or young people are on the streets after hours
and are unsafe, there are opportunities for police and other authorities to
contact child protection staff.
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