New strategic approach delivering positive change – annual report
The Office of the Children’s Guardian’s Annual Report released today reviews the first full year of the Children’s Guardian Act 2019.
With the new powers and functions under the Act, the Office of the Children’s Guardian developed a new Strategic Plan to embed its expanded structure and role.
The Child Safe Scheme, which is before Parliament, is designed to add the final piece and provide a strong framework through the child safe standards for building more positive, protective cultures for children across NSW.
The Office of the Children’s Guardian now regulates 30,000 organisations and 1.8 million workers and volunteers who work with children and young people across NSW.
With a renewed purpose to regulate and oversee organisations to uphold children and young people’s right to be safe, the framework under which the Office of the Children’s Guardian operates is the strongest we have had to create safe places for the children and young people of NSW to grow and thrive.
A particular focus for 2020-21 has been to examine our role in improving the outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people, particularly when they come into contact with systems such as juvenile justice and statutory out-of-home care.
Specific actions to support this focus include consultation with Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations leading to the review of the Standards for Permanent Care and creating a new position of Deputy Guardian.
Richard Weston was appointed in January and is leading our response to the Independent Review of Aboriginal Children and Young People in Out-of-home care in NSW, by Professor Megan Davis. This report is being compiled by a Family is Culture team, supporting Mr Weston. The report is due to the Minister in December 2021.
