Increased protection is being provided to children who are in the care of the State, or receiving other services from Government departments.
Community Development and Family Minister Eric Ripper said today the increased protection came through a uniform plan of response to allegations of child abuse, developed by all State Government agencies involved in providing services to children.
The change would affect teachers, foster parents and other professional, administrative and support staff from a range of departments.
Mr Ripper said the plan outlined procedures which must be followed after any allegation of abuse, by staff, of children in their care.
The Minister said the initiative stemmed from a recommendation of the Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, which was chaired by Dr Carmen Lawrence. It required the full investigation of protective and criminal matters relating to any child abuse allegation.
The Task Force recommendation was being implemented by departments in consultation with the Advisory and Co-ordinating Committee on Child Abuse (ACCCA).
"Under the plan, departments are required to ensure that personal staff relations and issues do not take precedence in any allegation of child sexual abuse," Mr Ripper said.
"Investigation of any such allegation is the responsibility of the Department for Community Development (DCD - formed by the amalgamation of the old Department for Community Services and the former Office of the Family) and the police."
The Minister said the response plan required departments to make decisions about the continued employment of staff, but the assessment of allegations must be undertaken in consultation with the DCD and police.
"The Task Force noted that children who have been sexually abused are particularly vulnerable to a repetition of the abuse.
"It is therefore essential that members of staff, treatment personnel, or persons in authority over, or responsible for, such a child, do not become involved in a repetition of the abusive relationship. This is especially relevant in situations which involve a particular content of intimacy, such as intense individual treatment."
