Roger Jaensch,Minister for Education, Children and Youth
The Tasmanian Liberal Government continues to make positive reforms to the Child Safety system through the Strong Families Safe Kids Next Steps Action Plan 2021-23.
Strong Families Safe Kids is built on the principle that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and families are improved through cross-sector collaboration with a focus on providing better support to families earlier.
The Next Steps Action Plan included 34 actions against five key priority areas focused on consolidating changes our Government has already made to the Children Safety system.
Today, I am releasing the Strong Families Safe Kids: Next Steps Progress Report, which outlines our Government's key achievements during the first year of the plan.
Some of these highlights include:
- Launching 'It Takes a Tasmanian Village', Tasmania's first ever whole-of-government Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for 0–25-year-olds in August 2021, with funding of over $100 million to support initiatives;
- Establishing the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line as the single contact point for unaccompanied under 16s who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness;
- Release of the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Policy Framework;
- Commencing an informal kinship care liaison and support service, delivered by Mission Australia in the North-West. This provides a key contact point for informal carers to help them navigate the service system and access the supports they need;
- Becoming a participant in the National Connect for Safety data sharing initiative ensuring increased safety for children and young people by more efficient information sharing between States and Territories authorities;
- Recruiting an additional Child Advocate for children in care for the North and Northwest to enhance both individual and systemic advocacy for children in care across the state.
We have achieved a lot in the first year of implementing Strong Families Safe Kids: Next Steps and our Government will continue to work to deliver the remaining actions going forward.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the implementation of Strong Families Safe Kids.
Tasmanians' priorities are our priorities and we look forward to continuing our work to deliver better outcomes and improved safety and wellbeing for Tasmanian children, young people and their families.
Our Government is strengthening the future for all Tasmanians.
The report can be found at: www.communities.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/225401/Strong-Families-Safe-Kids-Next-Steps-2021-2022-Progress-Report-June-2022.pdf
