Minister for Families and Community Services Rachel Stephen-Smith today released the first Action Plan to drive implementation of Next Steps for our Kids 2022-2030, the ACT's strategy to strengthen families and keep children and young people safe (Next Steps).
"Next Steps is a key part of the ACT Government's ambitious plan to reform child, youth and family services," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"Next Steps is shifting the focus of our child and youth protection system to earlier, more accessible support services for families when they need them most.
"Since June 2022 we have worked with community organisations, people with lived experience, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Co-Design Network, the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee and key government and community stakeholders to produce the first Action Plan."
The first Action Plan outlines the reform work already underway and the priority actions for the next three years.
The Plan integrates earlier family support, prevention, child protection, out of home care and youth justice and seeks to strengthen families who interact with these services.
"Services and support will be premised on greater family-led decision-making and restorative, trauma-informed practices," said Minister Stephen Smith.
"I am very pleased to be launching the first Action Plan under the Next Steps Strategy today, and I thank those in the community, government and non-government sector who contributed to its development."
"This Action Plan will be a living document to ensure we can respond to changing internal and external environments, emerging issues, evolving evidence and contemporary practice," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"This is evidence-based reform, underpinned by strong sector partnerships to improve the quality of services and help people have a greater say over the services they use and who provides them," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"The Action Plan reinforces the community's shared responsibility to keep children, young people and families safe, and our commitment to ensuring service systems are effective and contribute to better outcomes," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
