Queensland to remove children under five from residential care
نظرة سريعة
- Queensland will remove all children under five from residential care following a major inquiry into child safety.
- The inquiry made 52 recommendations, including restructuring the department and improving licensing, after finding serious failures and high costs in the sector.
ملخص مُنشأ بالذكاء الاصطناعي
لماذا يهم
A major inquiry into child safety in Queensland has revealed serious failures in the sector, including inadequate care and soaring costs. The inquiry, which involved nearly 50 hearings across three cities, made 52 recommendations to the government.
Children under the age of five will be removed from residential care in Queensland, the child safety minister says, following a major inquiry.
The state's Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety made 52 recommendations to the government to address what it called serious failures.
The inquiry was announced by the state government last year to review and fix issues across the child safety sector, including inadequate care for thousands of Queensland children and soaring costs.
In February, the government brought forward the commission’s reporting deadline, and its report was handed to the government on May 22.
Recommendations include considering increasing access to adoption in Queensland, redesigning and restructuring the department, overhauling licensing of providers, simplifying child protection orders and putting children's best interests at the centre of case officers' decision making.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm told parliament Queensland had 2,258 children in residential care, including 78 under the age of five.
"I have made a policy decision no children under the age of five are to remain in residential care," she said.
Ms Camm told parliament Queensland had 13,568 children living in out-of-home care.
Releasing the report today, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the government would establish a cabinet sub-committee with the government to respond to the report within two months.
"To the many people who made a submission and gave evidence, please know we not only admire your courage but we honour it," she said.
"In telling your stories, an often harrowing process, your trust and candour has been invaluable. What's more, it will lead to action."
Ms Camm said the commission also found 67 per cent of reported incidents of sexual abuse made to the Department of Child Safety involved children placed in residential care.
"Some of the findings in this report should keep Queenslanders awake at night," she said.
Over 10 months almost 50 hearings were held across Cairns, Brisbane and Townsville.
Ms Camm said she was "horrified at how former government has failed our most vulnerable children".
At the final hearing last month, Commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC told the inquiry he hoped there would be less talk and more action.
Mr Anastassiou said he hoped the system would be refocused on the best interests of the 12,500 children in care and the "villains" causing harm to children.
Ms Camm said the challenges facing the system "did not emerge overnight".
"They have developed over many, many years, and they will require serious reform that will take time," she said.
"We are prepared to confront difficult truths and make the decision necessary to improve outcomes for children and ultimately break the cycle."
ما الذي يجب مراقبته
توقعات الذكاء الاصطناعي — احتمالات وليست حقائق
Establishment of a cabinet sub-committee to respond to the inquiry report.
مرجح جداً · خلال أيام
Implementation of reforms to child protection system.
مرجح · خلال أشهر
أسئلة مفتوحة
- What specific reforms will be implemented to redesign and restructure the Department of Child Safety?
- What are the timelines for overhauling the licensing of child care providers?
- How will the government ensure children's best interests are consistently prioritized in case officer decision-making?
- What measures will be put in place to address the "villains" causing harm to children?
