Key achievements in progress Holding the second round of the Empowering Families Innovation Grants program to support place based, community led responses to keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people connected to their families, community, culture and country. Working to establish the Queensland First Children and Families Board with representation from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community across Queensland. Working with key partners and government agencies to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Strategy. Working with the Department of Education to increase access to quality health and disability programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2–5 years through the Remote Early Years Transitions project. Developing partnerships with the child and family support sector to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural capability strategy. Objective 1 Sharing responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of Queensland children Fast facts Record investment of $1.26 billion for family support and child protection (2018-19) More than 30,000 followers of the Talking Families Facebook page, up from 27,000 last year The number of followers of the Talking Families Facebook page continues to increase — helping more parents to ask for and accept help when they’re struggling 21% increase in reports from relatives, friends and neighbours to help families and children Reporting by relatives, friends and neighbours to Child Safety continues to increase and is expected to increase as responses to the Royal Commission recommendations regarding child safe communities are rolled out 75% of reports from mandatory reporters continue to be Child Concern Reports that do not meet the threshold for investigation — while this has decreased from 80% prior to establishment of the family support system, it indicates that we need to do more to raise awareness of Family and Child Connect with our mandatory reporters and the community Our progress so far Established the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) to provide oversight of Queensland’s child protection system and partner with other government and non-government agencies to ensure that best practice services are being delivered to children and families (www.qfcc.qld.gov.au). Delivered the Talking Families campaign to encourage help seeking and uptake of early support services (www.talkingfamilies.qld.gov.au).
Our values Cultural integrity We learn from and work with the strengths, knowledge, culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all that we do We listen and represent the voices of children, young people and families Connected and integrated We collaborate with partners, not simply consult Effective and We use an approach to decision making Flexible We adapt to our client’s needs and changing operating environment Accountable We are accountable, responsible and transparent Our results Communities, organisations and systems are safer for children and young people More families access parenting and family support services Fewer children and young people coming into care Greater stability, better health and well-being, and improved education, training and employment for children and young people in and post care Fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care Our objectives Sharing for the safety and wellbeing of children Supporting families earlier Working with families who are in contact with the child protection system to address risk to children’s safety Improving care and post-care for children and young people Meeting the needs and of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and Delivering quality services to children and families, through a capable, motivated workforce and Building an effective, and transparent system Key 2nd stage priorities Implement Child Safe principles, standards and initiatives at and systems levels Continue to build the family support system and invest in those family support and other services that achieve the best results referral, and practices and to address risk in families and help them safely care Continue to implement Partners in Care and improve support for carers and Implement legislative and practice reforms to Implement the Our Way strategy and Changing Tracks action plans, in conjunction with Indigenous leaders and Further invest in our workforce and sector Embed the Quality Program to support Child Safety to improve operations Continue to implement responses to of the of Inquiry, QFCC, Royal into Institutional
Strengthen access to early childhood education and care, domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol, health and mental health, disability and housing services for families at risk for their children strengthen stability and outcomes for children in care and post-care Strengthen access to education, health, disability & well-being services for children in care Extend and broaden support for young people from care, especially to housing, further education, training and and other supports and other levels of Facilitate initiatives driving better outcomes for children, young people and families Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and other reviews Take a continuous approach to improve the and of the system Improve information sharing across agencies and Our way All families enjoy access to quality, culturally safe universal and targeted services necessary for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations participate in and have control over decisions that affect their children Law, policy and practice in child and family welfare are culturally safe and responsive Governments and community services are accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities Give all our children a great start Create jobs in a strong economy Keep communities safe Keep Queenslanders healthy Be a responsive government © The State of Queensland (Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women) 2018