The tragic death of Bradyn Dillon has had a devastating impact on Bradyn's family and many people in our community. I extend my deepest sympathies and those of the ACT Government to Bradyn's mother and his family and friends on this incredibly difficult day.
I also acknowledge and thank every person who has participated in this inquest.
The circumstances of Bradyn's death are horrific and heartbreaking, and I know this has been a difficult process for many people who participated in these hearings.
This includes staff across Child and Youth Protection Services and other ACT Government directorates. Child and Youth Protection staff work in complex, emotional and very challenging situations. Support is available to any staff member who has been impacted by today's findings and I encourage them to reach out and talk to someone.
Every child deserves to be safe in their home. The ACT Government is committed to doing what we can to ensure children and young people have every opportunity to live happy and full lives.
Over the past five years, we have made significant changes to improve policies and practices across the child and youth protection system and in our responses to family violence in the ACT.
Since 2016, the ACT Government has delivered record investments to support a substantial reform agenda and to ensure the child protection system is better resourced to undertake its essential work with Canberra's most complex families. We have also continued to address family violence through Safer Families initiatives to ensure those experiencing domestic and family violence get the help and support they need.
The Community Services Directorate is currently working to respond to a significant number of recommendations from a range of reviews, inquiries and reports, including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Glanfield Inquiry, the Our Booris, Our Way review and the recent Legislative Assembly inquiry into Child and Youth Protection Services.
These recommendations focus heavily on building a Child and Youth Protection Services system that is restorative, contemporary and underpinned by good decision making and communication.
This work has driven change right across government to improve information sharing and the interaction between ACT Government directorates, agencies and service providers. The ACT has also had a leading role in improving child protection information sharing capability at a national level.
As a community, we share a collective responsibility for the safety of our children and young people. Bradyn Dillon's death was a tragedy that affected the entire community and raised awareness about the importance of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
Since Bradyn's death in early 2016, we have seen a significant increase in the volume of child concern reporting and two additional frontline teams have been established to address an increase in child concern reports.
Today's findings will have an impact on many people in our community. Family violence has a serious and devastating impact that can affect any anyone.
The ACT Government remains absolutely committed to the prevention of family and domestic violence and to protecting our children and young people.
We will carefully review the recommendations from the Coronial Inquest and consider how these can be addressed in the context of the significant reform agenda that is already underway.
