CREATING A SAFER STATE FOR OUR CHILDREN

Strengthened reporting, registration and data-sharing schemes targeting child abuse and record investments into support services for survivors and at-risk children are all helping to keep our kids safe according to a report released today. 
 
Attorney General Mark Speakman and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said NSW’s second annual report card provides an update on the Government’s actions in 2019 to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
 
“Protecting children from abuse and improving access to justice for survivors are the bedrock of the NSW Government’s response to the findings of the Royal Commission,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“We are rolling out the Government’s $127 million package of reforms responding to the Royal Commission, which will secure a safer future for our children and ensure we are doing everything we can to stop the horrors of the past being repeated.”
 
Highlights of the report include:
 

• a NSW-led national initiative enabling child protection workers to identify whether a child or person of interest may be known in another state or territory
• landmark legislative reforms to strengthen the child protection reportable conduct scheme and expand mandatory reporter groups
• better protection and support for children in out-of-home care
• allocation of  funding for community-based support services
• expanded professional education and training about child safety
• increased protections for young people in youth justice centres, and
• significant improvements to specialist sexual assault services.

 
“While we have made great strides in creating safer environments for our children and young people, there is still much more work to be done,” Mr Ward said.
 
“We will continue to work with government and non-government organisations to build on our progress and make sure the framework for protecting children is as strong as possible.”
 
The annual progress report for the NSW Government’s response to the Royal Commission can be accessed at https://bit.ly/2LMCDc9.