The ACT Government has today released a listening report on the consultation undertaken to develop a Charter of Rights for parents and families involved with the ACT child protection system.
Minister for Families and Community Services, Rachel Stephen-Smith, said the extensive feedback gathered through the engagement and consultation process will ensure the Charter is fit for purpose and enables clearer understanding about the way people can expect to interact and be treated when involved with child protection services in the ACT.
“We know contact with the child protection system can be incredibly difficult for parents and families. The Charter will support parents, families and their advocates when they engage with child protection workers to have a voice and be included in decisions about their children as much as possible,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The Charter is a key priority under Next Steps for Our Kids 2022-2030 – the ACT strategy for strengthening families and keeping children and young people safe – and progresses a commitment of the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement of the 10th Legislative Assembly.
“In developing the Charter, the Community Services Directorate has engaged closely with families, child protection staff and community organisations to hear from those with lived experience of the child protection system, as well as with advisory and oversight bodies, including the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
“I thank the families who shared deeply personal stories and the child protection workers who work with vulnerable families every day, often under very difficult circumstances, for their open contribution to this consultation.
“Their insights will allow us to deliver a Charter that enables everyone to work together in a restorative and respectful way to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Key insights from the consultation included:
- Culturally appropriate responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are critical to address the impacts of intergenerational trauma.
- Parents and families experience a power imbalance in interactions with workers, with many feeling their voices are not heard.
- Challenges regarding record-keeping and privacy impact both families and workers.
- Difficulty in understanding child protection processes makes it harder for people to understand what they need to do or what is possible to do.
- Support for parents and families should be tailored, but it can be difficult for both parents and workers to know all the supports that might be available.
Building on the consultation, the Charter of Rights for parents and families involved with ACT child protection services is now in final development and is expected to be released in May.
The release of this listening report is another step in delivering the ACT Government’s ambitious reforms to the child protection and family support systems.
