Media Statements: Statements http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx RSS feed for the Statements list. Department of the Premier and Cabinet Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:24:15 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 list Media Statements: Statements /_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx Action plan boosts services for at-risk children and young people in Kununurra http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132779 Content:

Vulnerable children and young people in Kununurra will benefit from a comprehensive plan to keep them off the streets at night.

 

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney today announced the five-point plan designed to protect children and young people affected by long-standing social issues in Kununurra.

 

“We know homelessness and unemployment are significant risk factors and the challenges facing the children and young people of Kununurra are alarming,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

“The young people of Kununurra are disproportionately exposed to neglect, boredom and disadvantage. This plan aims to support, educate and protect this vulnerable section of our community.”

 

The Minister warned it would not be an easy problem to solve, but the plan would operate collaboratively across agencies and was intended to ensure children and young people had access to safe and culturally-sensitive services and accommodation.

 

“We want to provide an environment where they can build confidence and be educated within protective behaviours,” she said.

 

The five-point interagency action plan includes the establishment of:

 

·      Operation CAIN (Children are Important Now) to provide early intervention for at-risk families experiencing alcohol, neglect or domestic violence issues. The program will refer families and individuals to compulsory income management, ParentSupport,

Strong Families and other support services

·      the Waringarri ‘Just Chilling’ and Youth Safe Space, to provide a mid-to-late evening child safe environment for children and young people in Kununurra.  Funding of $62,000 per annum for three years was made available for this program through the State Government’s WA Family Foundation

·      the Safe Places and Emergency Foster Care Partnership with a local indigenous organisation, to establish enhanced community carer options for emergency placements and accommodation for individual young people in Kununurra

·      two new four-bed group homes in Kununurra and Wyndham

·      a bail hostel, in partnership with the Department for Corrective Services, to provide emergency accommodation for young people.

 

Mrs McSweeney said the first of these services would start operation in early 2010.

 

Minister's office - 9222 8950 
 
Date: 16/11/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:21:29 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132779 Police and DCP workers unite to combat family and domestic violence http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132783 Content:

The Department of Child Protection and WA Police have formed a partnership to combat the incidence of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.

 

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said while visiting Kununurra, that the partnership aimed to address the occurrence and subsequent effects of family and domestic violence.

 

“From early 2010, senior field workers from the Department of Child Protection (DCP) and staff from the family protection unit of WA Police will co-locate at the DCP’s district office,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

“This co-location provides a specialised and integrated response in situations of family and domestic violence in Kununurra and other regional centres.

 

“Both agencies have different mandates in terms of their roles and functions, but there is a strong need to integrate policing and child protection responses given the link between family and domestic violence and the abuse of children.”

 

The Minister said the aim of the collaborative approach was to prevent child abuse in the context of family and domestic violence.

 

“This is achievable through improved information-sharing and resource-sharing to develop effective risk and safety management plans for situations and individuals,” she said.

 

This announcement follows the successful implementation of the co-location programs in metropolitan Perth. In addition to Kununurra, the new sites identified for expansion include:

 

·         Albany

·         Bunbury

·         Northam

·         Kalgoorlie-Boulder

·         Geraldton

·         Mandurah

·         South Hedland

·         Broome.

 

“We hope the co-location model will encourage families and individuals to access services to prevent further family and domestic violence,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

Minister's office - 9222 8950
Date: 16/11/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:22:40 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132783 Minister urges parents to beware of danger in Bali plan for schoolies http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132785 Content:

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney has warned parents that student plans to spend the traditional ‘schoolies’ week in Bali was fraught with peril.

 

Mrs McSweeney urged parents to consider the very serious danger of allowing their   children to travel to Bali rather than more traditional holiday destinations such as Rottnest and Dunsborough.

 

The Minister’s warning followed reports that many students were considering cheap holidays in Bali as an option for schoolie week.

 

“While Bali and other cheap overseas holiday destinations may seem like an attractive option, parents and students need to take account of the very different cultural and legal systems that are in place outside of Western Australia,” she said.

 

“We have seen examples of Australians caught in the Indonesian legal system and the results of those cases are not recommended for anyone.

 

“Parents need to know that other countries have very different legal systems and in some cases behaviour that would attract relatively minor penalties in WA can have very serious consequences in a place such as Bali.”

 

Mrs McSweeney also urged parents to reflect on the difficulties in travelling overseas if their children got into medical, financial or legal difficulty.

 

“Schoolies week is a time when many students experiment with a variety of behaviours which can potentially have devastating consequences,” the Minister said.

 

“It is easier for parents to get to family members in trouble and to negotiate legal and medical situations if necessary, those family members are only a few hours drive or a ferry ride away rather than an international flight away in time and distance.

 

“Everyone wants students to enjoy this time and to experience the rite of passage that is represented by schoolies week. But we want this to occur in a safe environment.”

 

Minister's office: 9222 8950

Date: 16/11/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Arbouin, Shane Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:08:02 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132785 New domestic violence program gives at risk women another option http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132757 Content:

More than 90 representatives from the State’s domestic violence and outreach services gathered today to discuss the development of new Western Australian domestic and family violence responses.

 

The Safe at Home forum, a joint initiative hosted by the Department for Child Protection and the Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services, was officially opened by Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney.

 

“Often women leave their homes to escape domestic violence and find themselves in unstable housing, dislocated from support networks and employment, and have their children’s education disrupted,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

“The Safe at Home model provides another option for women and children, based on an individual assessment of risk and safety.”

 

The program provides specialist workers to assess the safety and support needs of women and children to stay in their own home, and brokerage funds to stabilise housing and increase security.

 

“Important aspects of the Safe at Home program include safety planning; security upgrades to victim’s homes; court support; liaison with police and other services; referrals to legal advice and counselling; and casework to address financial and other issues,” the Minister said.

 

“In addition, a Domestic Violence Outreach Program will provide five workers in rural and remote locations including Peel, Pilbara, Murchison, Great Southern and Goldfields.”

 

The Safe at Home forum also featured an address by visiting keynote speaker Ludo McFerran, who provided an update on a range of Safe at Home programs in other jurisdictions.

 

Minister's office: 9222 8950
Date: 10/11/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:48:48 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132757 Amendments to close Working with Children Card loopholes http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132725 Content:

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney today announced amendments to the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 that aimed to close current loopholes related to Working with Children Cards.

 

The amendments would strengthen the current Act and seek to exclude people with criminal histories that indicate they may harm a child, from starting or continuing child-related work, regardless if it is paid or voluntary.

 

“I made a commitment prior to and during the 2008 election campaign that amendments were necessary to the Act as they would address key issues that have arisen since the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act came into effect on January 1, 2006,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

There will be additional sexual offences added to current Class 1 Schedule offences, including:

 

·         sexual penetration without consent

·         aggravated sexual penetration without consent

·         sexual coercion

·         aggravated sexual coercion.

 

committed when a child is under the age of 13 and the offender is an adult.

 

“These offences were not included when the Act came into effect in 2006 and it was obvious they should have been as they are offences that have a devastating and lasting impact on victims.

 

“The amendments to the Act will be before State Parliament this month and will bring the child into central focus.  Where people who have committed offences of risk that target children, they will be denied access to a Working with Children Card.”

 

Additional improvements will also see the capacity to receive and act on notifications by the Police Commissioner of non-scheduled offences, where persons have a change in criminal record and can no longer be undertaking child-related work. This new amendment seeks to cancel the card and create penalties if not returned.

 

The Minister said the director of the Working with Children Unit would require a person who was due to be issued a negative notice to advise why they should not be issued with a negative notice.

 

This submission would be taken into account by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) if the applicant appealed the negative notice, even if offences were more than 20-years-old. The offence committed would be taken into account by SAT, together with a victim impact statement, to ascertain what impact the offence would have on a child if the applicant re-offended.

 

Minister's office - 9222 8950
 
Date: 3/11/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Arbouin, Shane Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:27:50 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132725 Early signs Income Management trials are a success http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132628 Content:

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney today outlined early success measures of Income Management trials in Western Australia since the program was introduced in late 2008.

 

To date, a total of 426 families have voluntarily taken part in the program, with 193 families completing the program. Currently 233 families are voluntarily participating in the trial.

 

Additionally, a total of 86 families to date have been referred by the Department for Child Protection, with 15 families completing the program. Currently 71 families are on income management following referral.

 

The trial is part of an ongoing collaboration between the State and Federal governments in an effort to work with families who are in receipt of certain Commonwealth welfare payments, to ensure they manage their income to provide necessities for their children.

 

“I am pleased to see the positive impact this trial is having in the communities and districts currently participating. I will however, continue to strongly lobby Federal Government counterparts to approve additional districts as we are seeing benefits not just for families participating but also for the immediate communities,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

“Families who have been through the program and now exited the system, have reported their positive experiences to the Department for Child Protection even if they were initially reluctant to participate.

 

“The stories are the same regardless if families had participated voluntarily or if they were referred to the program. Income management has assisted in reunification planning, reduced hostility within families regarding how welfare payments are spent, assisted to reduce outstanding debt and helped families manage their ongoing bills.

 

“The simple fact is, this program is a valuable tool to help families put food in their cupboards, pay their rent, be able to save for their future, empower people to be in control of their finances and reduce domestic tensions fuelled by drugs and alcohol.”

 

Minister's office  - 9222 8950
Date: 16/10/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:28:51 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132628 Planning ensures young people to benefit from new homelessness services http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132618 Content:

Homeless young people will have access to new services as early as January 2010 as a result of projects funded through the Homelessness National Partnership Agreement (NPA).

 

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said the State Government had invested $68million across four years to tackle homelessness in Western Australia, stemming from long-term unemployment; mental health issues; a shortage of affordable housing; substance abuse; domestic and family violence and relationship breakdowns.

 

The Department for Child Protection and representatives from 86 non-government community service organisations are in the final stages of planning project roll outs across the State.

 

“This Government’s funding commitment will provide additional long-term stable accommodation and a range of new support services to strengthen responses to a range of homelessness issues in WA,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

“This includes the development of service models aimed at youth homelessness, including services for rough sleepers, homelessness accommodation workers, and workers to support people leaving institutional care.

 

The Minister said that a series of expressions of interest will be called in October and November this year to appoint service providers to provide support services under the new initiative.

 

“We anticipate that most of these services will be up and running by early next year and I am pleased there has been no delay with the roll-out as they are much needed across the State,” she said.

 

A number of the new projects will assist children and young people who have experienced homelessness or domestic violence and will include:

 

·        a ‘Foyer’ development providing secure housing and on-site support services for about 100 young people, including 35 who are experiencing homelessness

·        support for young people leaving child protection through a service to provide additional independent living options and skills to assist young women to live independently long term

·        support for children who have experienced homelessness to maintain contact with the education system through strengthening responses for children in Domestic and Family Violence accommodation refuge services and expanding support services for children in family homeless accommodation services.

 

Minister's office  - 9222 8950
Date: 14/10/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:22:17 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132618 Income management trials to be expanded across the Perth metropolitan area http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132564 Content:

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney today welcomed the announcement of the expansion of Income Management in Western Australia.

 

This followed ongoing and urgent recommendations to the Federal Government for additional districts in the Perth metropolitan area to be able to offer the trial since its introduction in late 2008.

 

The Income Management for Child Protection initiative is already operating in Cannington, Joondalup, Midland, Mirrabooka and East and West Kimberley.  It will become available in the Armadale, Perth, Fremantle and Rockingham Districts in early 2010.

 

"I have been consistently lobbying for a further expansion of income management throughout WA since it was introduced and I am delighted that the measure will now be available across all metropolitan districts as an additional tool to respond to the neglect of children," Mrs McSweeney said.

 

The trial is part of an ongoing collaboration between the State and Commonwealth governments in an effort to work with families who are in receipt of certain Commonwealth welfare payments, to ensure they manage their income to provide the necessities for their children.

 

"The WA model of income management differs to trials offered in other Australian jurisdictions, as it is a case-by-case measure that is child focused.  Up to 70 per cent of welfare payments can be quarantined to pay for essentials, and the purchase of items such as tobacco and alcohol are prohibited,” the Minister said.

 

"Case managers from the Department for Child Protection can recommend that families stay on income management for a minimum of three months and up to a maximum of 12 months depending on the family’s circumstances.

 

"The feedback we have received to date from families participating in the trial has been positive and this includes families who are participating on both a voluntary and involuntary basis.”

 

Currently, 220 families in WA have elected to be placed on income management voluntarily, with 60 families having been referred by the Department for Child Protection since its introduction in late 2008.

 

A total allocation of $18.9million over two years has been made by the Commonwealth for WA’s income management trial.

 

Minister's office - 9222 8950
Date: 2/10/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:59:40 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132564 New funeral assistance program to help disadvantaged http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132511 Content:

Families unable to bury their loved ones due to financial hardship will be able to access support through a new streamlined funeral assistance program, announced today by the State Government.

 

Child Protection and Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney said today the Government’s new Bereavement Assistance program would replace the previous scheme known as Funeral Assistance.

 

Mrs McSweeney said the Bereavement Assistance program would assist more Western Australian families who may be having difficulty in paying for the funerals of loved ones.

 

“We understand more families are experiencing financial hardship than in the past and as a Government it’s important that we are able to support disadvantaged families during what is a traumatic time,” she said.

 

“The principal change we have made is to ensure more families are aware of the scheme and have the opportunity to access this important assistance.”

 

The Minister said the State Government had introduced a 24-hour a day help line (1800 854 925) that would provide information on how to access the program.

 

She said staff from the Department of Child Protection would be available during business hours to provide information, but applications would need to be made in person directly through the department.

 

Under the program, assistance will be provided to eligible families that includes a contribution towards the costs of the funeral director, transport, funeral notices and the attendance of a religious minister.

 

“In the past assistance has been provided for up to 400 families and we would expect that number to increase marginally in the future and we will provide funding to cover that expected increase,” Mrs McSweeney said.

 

The Minister said the program was aimed at helping people who were in genuine need and who could also demonstrate genuine financial hardship.

 

“People who are deemed eligible will still be asked to demonstrate their ability to contribute to some of the cost of the funeral under the program,” she said.

 

“Each application is assessed on a case by case basis to best meet the needs of vulnerable members of the community.”

 

Families wanting more information on the Bereavement Assistance program can either freecall 1800 854 925 or visit their local Department for Child Protection regional office.

 

Minister's office  - 9222 8950
Date: 22/09/2009
Minister: McSweeney
Portfolio: Child Protection;Community Services
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:16:54 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132511 Ministers oversee collaboration on sex education http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132506 Content:

The Ministers for Education, Health and Child Protection were this week briefed on developments, including an upgrade to curriculum support material, in sex education in Western Australia.

 

The three Ministers gave an undertaking to jointly address the issue following concerns raised earlier this year on the adequacy of sex education.

 

“We are very keen to work together to ensure that students in all WA schools receive useful and relevant information on relationships and sex in an appropriate manner,” Education Minister Liz Constable said.

 

“I am pleased to report that a project to upgrade sex education curriculum support materials is well under way.

 

“The Department of Education and Training (DET) has collaborated with the Department of Health to upgrade the Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (GDHR) curriculum support materials, as well as online professional development for teachers.”

 

GDHR focuses on providing students with the skills to make informed decisions about relationships they form throughout their life.  

It is a comprehensive skills-based approach to the teaching of relationship education and provides strategies for students from pre-primary to Year 12.

 

Health Minister Kim Hames said the Department of Health was spearheading a review of all GDHR materials, which would lead to the development of a new website expected to be available in early 2010.

 

'The interactive website is being developed for teachers to give them training and practical support to plan and prepare for sexual health and relationships lessons in the classroom - which is often a difficult area to teach," Dr Hames said.

 

“It’s critical that students get the necessary information they need.”

 

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said she was pleased that the DET was developing a curriculum resource to assist teachers to develop teaching and learning programs to educate students on protective behaviours.

 

“A priority of mine is to ensure that all children are aware of their right to be safe and are informed of critical protective behaviours and strategies.”

 

Office of the Minister for Education - 9222 9699

Office of the Minister for Health - 9222 8788
Office of the Minister for Child Protection -9222 8950
Date: 18/09/2009
Minister: Constable;Hames;McSweeney
Portfolio: Education;Health;Child Protection
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:50:26 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132506