VCOSS response to Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children ...

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Victorian Government now needs to act to better support vulnerable children and young people

The Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry Panel report tabled in Parliament today provides a valuable overview of the reforms required to improve the services and systems to promote better outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families, according to the Victorian Council of Social Service.

'VCOSS commends the Panel on the work they have undertaken to consult with a large number of individuals, organisations and agencies in developing the report,' said Cath Smith, VCOSS Chief Executive Officer.

'The Panel recognises that improving outcomes for vulnerable children is not the sole responsibility of the Department of Human Services but requires a whole of government approach, across a range of portfolios, including Human Services, Early Childhood and Education, Health and Justice. This is critical as vulnerability needs to be addressed through family support services and child protection and through improved responses by early childhood services, schools, hospitals, drug and alcohol and mental health services. Families must be able to access services when and where needed.

'VCOSS commends the Government?s commitment to develop a whole of government Vulnerable Children and Families and Strategy and to establish a Children?s Services Committee of Cabinet as key ways to promote these improved responses across government.

'The Victorian Government now needs to work with all stakeholders, including community sector organisations, to develop both its response to the Inquiry and an implementation plan to drive improved outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families.'

VCOSS believes the following areas need to be addressed as a matter of priority:

• Early intervention: Improve the ability of all Victorian families to access the supports they need, when they need them, including early childhood services, family support, drug and alcohol, housing and homelessness, and mental health services; and enhance the ability of these services to work more effectively with vulnerable families.
• Education: improve how schools meet the learning and development needs of vulnerable children and young people, including developing more flexible learning environments, and improve linkages between schools and local community sector organisations.
• Adult and universal health services: increase the ability of universal health services and specialist adult services, such as mental health, drug and alcohol, and homelessness services to be more responsive to the needs of children in their work with the parent or carer.
• Funding: Enhance funding for all services that support the wellbeing of vulnerable children, young people and families ? including mental health, drug and alcohol, family violence, homeless, and child and family ? by linking funding models to Victoria?s population growth and ensuring funding reflects the full cost of service delivery, and ensuring that workers are fairly renumerated.
• Out of home care: Extend the capacity of all services to provide therapeutic care to children and young people suffering? trauma associated with abuse and neglect, and to promote healing and recovery, and develop a new funding approach that encourages more flexible responses.
• Workforce and training: Strengthening early intervention and prevention services demands skilled professionals across universal and specialist services and greater collaboration across professional boundaries. This includes child and family, drug and alcohol, mental health, and early childhood services.
• Improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and families: Improve the way mainstream universal and specialist services ? including hospitals, early childhood services and schools ? meet the needs of Aboriginal children, young people and families; as well as developing Aboriginal specific responses.
• Young people leaving care: Increase the capacity of organisations to provide home based and residential care beyond 18 years of age and to provide post care support until a young person reaches 25, particularly ensuring young people have appropriate housing, health, training and employment supports.
• Enhance the functioning of the Children's Court: Roll-out New Model Conferences across Victoria, establish specialist sexual assault and Koori lists, and improve facilities at the Melbourne Children?s Court.
• Strengthen the protection of Children's rights: establish a Commission for Children and Young People and within that office, an Aboriginal Children?s Commissioner.

The Coalition Government was elected just over a year ago on the strength of a series of promises, including a commitment to look after families. Victoria?s economic strength rests on the wellbeing of all Victorians. VCOSS sees the upcoming 2012-13 State Budget as a significant opportunity for the Government to commence the staged implementation of key reforms, and we look forward to working with the Government to ensure any reforms promote improved outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Cath Smith contact John Kelly ? M: 0418 127 153

Follow the conversation at www.twitter.com/vcoss

VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au

Source: http://www.vcoss.org.au/media/mediarelease.php?id=166

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