The Queensland Government recently released its final implementation stage of the new Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017. This means all legislative reforms are effective as of 29 October 2018.
Final stage amendments and/or reforms include:
Stage 3 Amendments – October 2018
- The safe care and connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with family, community and culture including the right to self-determination and embedding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in legislation, removal of reference to the Recognised Entity, introduction of the new concept of an independent person for a child or young person, and the ability to delegate functions and powers to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation.
- Supporting Permanency and Stability for children, now and throughout their lives including the introduction of a new permanency framework to promote timely decision-making, greater emphasis on all dimensions of permanency — relational, physical and legal aspects, stronger focus on achieving permanency goals and concurrent case planning, limitations on the use of consecutive short-term orders and the introduction of the permanent care order.
- A contemporary information sharing framework including a greater ability for the family support system to share information and the publication of an Information Sharing Guideline by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (DCSYW).
- Transition to Adulthood including a legal requirement for transition planning to commence from 15 years of age and the extension of support eligibility up to the age of 25 for young people who have been in care.
For more information on the Child Safety legislation reforms, please click here: https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/child-family/child-family-reform/child-safety-legislation-reform
To view the Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017, please click here:
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2017-044
In response to the final implementation stage, the Queensland Government has released resources that have been developed for the NGO sector regarding the Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017 (changes).
The resources have been developed by the DCSYW Child Protection Reform Amendment Act Implementation Team.
Included and attached below are:
- Child Protection Reform Amendment Act capability development modules which have been amended for an NGO audience.
- Two (2) independent person brochures and the NGO Let’s Get Ready Kit which will be available on the department’s internet site this week.
Other resources include a number of videos (as per links below):
- CPRAA Overview video https://youtu.be/D9_EKM43BBM– please feel free to use this link with your staff internally. If you would like to share this video outside your organisation, a modified version has been developed for children, young people, families carers and the community which can be found herehttps://youtu.be/knO3uUMG0s4
- Independent Person video – Families https://youtu.be/P3ucePhmnaw
- Independent Person video – Independent Person https://youtu.be/qvrJJQkpET0
- If you have any questions regarding the reforms, please contact QATSICPP on 07 3102 4119 or send us an email via our web-based contact form: https://www.qatsicpp.com.au/contact
