Keep Them Safe: A Shared Approach to Child Wellbeing

Premier Nathan Rees today released the Governments response to the recommendations made by Justice Wood in his report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW which he handed down on 24 November 2008.

The Premier promised at the time that legislation would come before the Parliament at the beginning of March.

All of the 111 recommendations that Justice Wood tabled in his substantial report have been addressed in our response, Mr Rees said.

Keep them safe sets out the Governments Action Plan, over the next five years, to improve the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in NSW.

Its goal is that all children in NSW are healthy, happy and safe, and grow up belonging in families and communities where they have opportunities to reach their full potential.

Caring and supporting children is first and foremost the responsibility of parents, families and communities.  It is also a responsibility across government, and the non-government sector. This is why Keep them Safe lays the foundations for better partnerships between government agencies and non-government organisations.

Keep them safe also addresses underlying factors that affect abuse and neglect and will help families earlier so that they do not escalate into the statutory child protection system.

The package and new legislation has been developed in close consultation with all the Ministers and agencies that work with vulnerable children and young people, Mr Rees said.

There are also several committees of representatives from non-government bodies who will be involved in implementing many of the changes made to the legislation.

Justice Woods report provided us with the catalyst for change and the legislation heralds a new direction for how Government and the community can work together to better protect children and help families in need of support.

Implementation of 'Keep Them Safe'

The Department of Premier and Cabinet will continue to lead an inter-agency Implementation Unit over the next twelve months to oversee the introduction of reforms arising from Keep them Safe, and is committed to consultation with the non-government and community sectors to ensure implementation is effective.

Keep Them Safe Website

For all the latest information, visit the new Keep Them Safe website.