Steering a course for a child safe journey

Steve's update: In August, I chaired the first meeting of a steering group to help guide the work of NSW government agencies in child-related work as they implement their Child Safe Action Plans.

Lighthouse

But first, let me briefly mention a report I tabled yesterday in NSW Parliament providing recommendations for reform of the out-of-home care system in our state.

I encourage you to read our news article for more details of the report: Strengthening out-of-home care and the broader child protection system.

Child Safe Prescribed Agency Steering Committee

The steering committee I chaired earlier in the month draws together representatives from key government agencies identified under the NSW Child Safe Scheme, requiring them to create and report on Child Safe Action Plans. The agencies are:

  • Department of Communities and Justice
  • Ministry of Health
  • Department of Education (including the Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority)
  • Office of Sport
  • Office of Local Government
  • Inspector of Custodial Services 
  • NSW Education Standards Authority.


I’m pleased to report that they all have created and published their plans, which are available on our Child Safe Action Plans web page.

The first meeting of the new Child Safe Prescribed Agency Steering Committee on 7 August 2024 is an important milestone on our child safe journey.

Over the next 2 years, the steering committee will convene and report on how their action plans are progressing to completion.

The steering committee will also provide a forum for prescribed agencies to share challenges and lessons learned in implementing the action plans in their sectors. It will also be a useful mechanism for identifying the strategies, initiatives and levers for prescribed agencies in fulfilling their sector leadership role to support compliance under the Child Safe Scheme.

Prescribed agencies are now preparing their first six monthly progress reports on their Child Safe Action Plans to be submitted to my team for review.

It’s no mean feat to coordinate an inter-agency group of this kind, so my thanks go to the whole group for their commitment to this important work.

We’ll be meeting again in November as we pursue our obligations under the Child Safe Scheme to support the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in NSW.

Steve Kinmond OAM
Children's Guardian

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