weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

23 Aug 2005 Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2637
things are happening. It saddens me to think that this is happening in both cultures right throughout our
state.
I urge the minister to make certain that we have more professional people trained in the field of
child safety so that we can get some expertise out there—people who understand what it means to look
after these children. They have a terribly difficult task. Whether they are nurses in a hospital, social
workers or whoever, those people are trained professionals. I do not think they get paid enough. But, at
the same time, we cannot put people in positions of looking after children in a professional capacity if
they have not been trained professionally to deal with the issues.
We talk about foster-carers. There are some very, very good foster-carers out there who are
committed to being foster-carers. We talk about people who are acceptable under the blue card system.
I do not believe the blue card system is worth two bob—that is my honest opinion—because, at the end
of the day, somebody could violate their position just like that. That comes back to the issue of trust.
Most of the time we know the people in our communities whom we can trust.
I say to the minister here this evening that there is one issue that really worries me. There are a
lot of people within the minister’s department who live in fear that they might be reprimanded if they say
something because they do not have the numbers on the ground or whatever. The minister should treat
those people as professionals.
We need to help all of those people in need. Whether we are opposition members or government
members, it is about trying to get value for our dollars so that we can assist those people in need. We
are talking about two per cent of the kids in the state. Those two per cent need the minister, they need
me, they need everybody to make certain that we are implementing the right policies and programs to
assist them and to keep them protected from the evil grubs in society so that those kids can grow up
with somebody who cares for them and loves them, whether it is with their grandmother or their aunt or
their uncle. This is a very important situation and one that needs to be closely monitored.
Time expired.
Mrs DESLEY SCOTT (Woodridge—ALP) (9.10 pm): Child safety is a community imperative. It is
an absolute basic right for all children to receive love and nurture, and to grow up in a safe environment
where they are able to enjoy their childhood and grow into mature adults contributing to their community.
I am very pleased to rise to speak on the Child Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2005. Today, we
herald the introduction of phase 3 of the CMC recommendations into our child protection system in
Queensland. Many of the 110 recommendations are now in process and today will see the
implementation of a further three, plus contribute in part to a further five of the recommendations.
The Department of Child Safety is a work in progress. Whilst undertaking the restructure of the
department, employment of additional staff and their training, setting up of a number of new offices and
putting in place computer services to ensure greater efficiency in handling cases, they must not lose
sight of the primary focus of the department: the protection of vulnerable children. We should never let
processes get in the way of the main game.
I would like to mention just a few points in this bill. It makes provision for the voluntary placement
of children with an out-of-home carer when the parents have sought help from the department. It also
addresses the placement of Indigenous children with non-Indigenous carers. In Logan, we have a
number of very experienced Indigenous foster-carers. They work in collaboration with one another, they
assist and support one another and they have very strong views that Indigenous children should,
wherever possible, be placed with Indigenous foster-parents. However, we all realise that there are
times when this may not be possible. This bill undertakes to ensure that, in those cases, the fostercarers
do all in their power to maintain the child’s contact with their family and cultural group. In this way
they will ensure the child’s sense of identity and belonging.
Here I have to commend my Indigenous elders group. They have been strong advocates for good
parenting and support families in the area. Workers from the local area office of child safety regularly
attend their meetings and much discussion has occurred regarding the operation of the department
when Indigenous families are involved. They very much believe in early intervention and wish as much
as possible to work with parents in their homes to ensure that problems do not escalate to the stage
where children need to be removed from the home.
Three of my respected Indigenous organisations have received recognised agency status and
have been charged with the task of liaising with the department on issues involving Indigenous families.
I find their council to be wise and understanding. Ganyjuu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Corporation for Family Support Services, Nutcha Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for
Economic and Community Development and Murrigunyah all have extensive experience in the Logan
area and are well respected in the wider community. Consultation is the key.
Provision is also made to regulate the assessment and approval of all carers, including kinship
carers. Once these amendments are effective, the department will have the ability to provide ongoing
assessment, training, respite and support for all carers. To assist with this, $717,000 has been allocated
in 2005-06 and a further $3,298,000 in 2006-07. The support offered by the department is in the case
management when a child is placed in care.