There is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, and a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will continue to do all we can to support our children, young people and their families.

Our record investment of $51 million through the Strong Families, Safe Kids Child Safety Redesign has changed the way we respond for the better, but we know more is needed, and we are committed to continuing these significant improvements.

If re-elected, we will:

• invest $5 million across four years to ensure children and young people who enter out-of-home care and cannot return home, are supported in new stable permanent family arrangements where they can belong and thrive, and go on to reach their full potential;
• invest $1.75 million to extend supports for Informal Kinship Carers, who play a crucial role in the lives of many Tasmanian children who are unable to live with their parents, including:
  • a support and liaison officer in the North West, who will act as a support conduit for informal kinship carers, access to training opportunities;
  • an information portal and government concessions for kinship carers;
  • increased brokerage funds for set up and other costs; and
  • access to free community respite for families who need that support.

We will also undertake a comprehensive review of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 to ensure it is contemporary, and in line with our new approach to child safety under our Strong Families, Safe Kids reforms.

This review of the Act will examine such matters as:

• information sharing across government and with non-government services;
• the role of Aboriginal communities and organisations in supporting Aboriginal children and families;
• embedding our public health approach to safety and wellbeing for children and young people;
• enhancing the requirements for supporting and preserving families, wherever it is safe to do so; and
• promoting permanent and stable outcomes for children who enter out of home care.

We will also progress key initiatives to further implement the Aboriginal child placement principle for children in out-of-home care.

These initiatives will continue our long term commitment to reforming our child safety system and ensure we secure Tasmania’s Future for our children, young people and their families.

The policy can be found here.