"Out of Home Care"
- Details
- Category: Uncategorised
- Created: Monday, 22 November 2010 23:30
- Written by Alecomm2
Ms PRU GOWARD: My question is directed to the Minister for Community Services. Given that when Justice Wood presented his Department of Community Services report the Government claimed to have accepted his recommendations, why, two years later, have recommendations regarding out-of-home care still not been implemented, prompting 27 non-government foster care providers to publicly voice their concerns that staff shortages, confirmed by the Auditor-General, are overloading caseworkers and resulting in inadequate oversight of foster children?
Ms LINDA BURNEY: I thank the member for Goulburn for her question. In fact, I absolutely welcome her question. The issue the member for Goulburn is referring to is one of the recommendations by Justice James Wood, relating to the transfer of out-of-home care from the Department of Community Services to the non-government sector. What people need to understand is that much of what is provided in terms of out-of-home care is already provided by the non-government sector. Indeed, I think the member for Goulburn would concede that.
Justice James Wood's recommendations were for implementation over five years, and we are just over 12 months into that period. I understand that a group of non-government organisations are loudly expressing the view that we are taking too long to transfer out-of-home care to the non-government sector. Let me be extremely clear from this point onwards: There is a commitment, and everyone in the non-government sector knows that there is a commitment, for that transfer. But let me put it very clearly: There will not be a transfer that is hasty, that is done without proper planning, that is done without proper funding, and that is done without proper care and consideration for the people who will be affected the most, that is, those in out-of-home care.
What is not coming across from the coalition that has formed itself into this organisation is that we have a reference group of non-government providers—in fact, some of our biggest non-government providers—who are working with us closely, carefully and in a considerate, intelligent way to plan that transfer. I also want to make it very clear that a number of the organisations in that coalition were invited to be part of that reference group. In fact, they were all invited to be part of that reference group. It is their decision, and their decision alone, whether they want to be part of the planning and the transfer. Some people have not taken that view. I have been nothing but consistent, as has the Premier, with regard to this transfer. We know that the non-government sector provides a service to children who are the most vulnerable and who have had to be removed from their families, and that these organisations are the ones that should be undertaking the bulk of out-of-home care. Those organisations should be undertaking the bulk of out of home care. The member for Goulburn knows the facts but let me clearly say—
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Goulburn will cease interjecting.
Ms LINDA BURNEY: If members think I am going to rush this and that it not going to be properly funded—
[Interruption]
Members opposite can cat call as much as they want because they are on a hiding to nothing on this. If members think this will be done without careful consideration then they can talk to the media as much as they like. I will not be rushed on something as important as this.
I can inform the House that there is not going to be a 100 per cent transfer and everyone is clear on that. The children who will stay with Community Services are those children who are so damaged and who have had their lives cut short in every way, including almost death. Those children are so difficult that it sometimes requires two people to be with them 24 hours per day to prevent them from hurting themselves—so that they do not swallow razor blades or do things that will kill them. Those children will stay with Community Services because of their needs; the rest will be transferred in the coming years. Unions have been mentioned. I heard something about this on Radio 2GB or Radio 2UE. It was said that I am a captive of the unions—
Mr Chris Hartcher: They all are captives of the unions.
Ms LINDA BURNEY: Well, that is your problem. Can I just say that I am not a captive of the unions and the unions have been part of this process! [Time expired.] (Source : http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20101123023?open&refNavID=HA8_1)
