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October 2004

Meeting date: Friday, 29 October 2004

The Child Protection Statewide Partnership Taskforce held its 4th meeting on 29 October 2004 in Brisbane. Members of the Taskforce attended the launch by the Minister of the Showcase - Innovation and Best Practice, prior to the meeting. The Taskforce, chaired by the A/Deputy Director General, Department of Child Safety and comprising representatives from Queensland Government agencies and the non-government sector, held discussions on matters relating to the child protection system and the Blueprint for reform.

This Communique provides some of the outcomes of these discussions.

1. Recruitment

Principal Planning and Partnership Officer positions to be advertised in the Courier Mail, Saturday, 30 October 2004 and will be repeated on Saturday, 6 November 2004. Applications close Monday, 15 November 2004.

2. Multicultural Child Protection Community Workshop

The workshop was conducted by the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland to promote awareness and understanding about the multicultural sector in relation to child protection issues. A follow up workshop will be conducted in the future and a number of recommendations will be proposed to the Taskforce and the Department for consideration.

3. Child Safety Implementation Unit

Seventeen projects compressed into six major projects. Discussion of service planning framework - Alternative Care reform project and the Alternative Care partnering group in conjunction with the Taskforce to develop frameworks and guidelines for zones to assist them to develop alternative care plans.

4. Legislative Reform

Stage 2 passed last week in Parliament to take effect next year. Key points:

• case planning - a case plan for all children in need of care;
• information sharing - the Act has enabled information sharing between agencies and prescribed entities;
• extended monitoring function added to powers of Child Guardian.

Stage 3 - Discussion paper being prepared for completion mid November. Cabinet paper will be ready by beginning February 2005. Significant impact on Indigenous child protection.

5. Strengthening NGO's Project (Communities)

Presentation on the Department of Communities Strengthening NGO's Project, which sits within Minister Pitt's portfolio, and addresses key points:

• clarifying roles and responsibilities;
• securing business relationship;
• legislative changes;
• establishing standards required from funded organisations;
• client charter service standards;
• sector development;
• asset base.

Some aspects are relevant to DChS and some are not.

6. Child Safety Officer Training Initiative

Eight week program for training of new CSO's has been running for a year with approx. 180 people completing the program. Next year at least 200 will participate with approx. 20 people undertaking the program at one time. Starting January 2005, the program will be extended to 10 weeks to incorporate a two week placement with NGO's. First placement will take place by mid-February 2005. Key points:

• need to arrange placement of CSO's within non-government agencies;
• placement would, where possible, take place in the home zone;
• placement should not only take place with DChS funded services as a broader exposure would be beneficial, for example, family support, domestic violence, sexual assault services, CALD communities, psychiatric, disability and drug services;
• services obliged to supervise, but not assess workers.

Other items discussed:

1. Evaluation framework: Final report to be presented at next meeting.
2. Structured Decision Making (SDM) system: Children's Research Centre (USA) representatives in Brisbane in December.
3. Strategic Plan: Presentation of the DChS Strategic Plan.
4. Building Blocks: DChS Building Blocks publication distributed featuring an article on the Partnership, 'Partnership Taskforce goes online'.

Next meeting: Friday, 26 November 2004.

Last updated

30 May 2007