Child Protection Week (September 3-9) is an opportunity for the community to remember that we can all play a part to help keep children safe.

Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward, said the NSW Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable children and young people in our communities.

“We are investing $1.9 billion in 2017-18 to protect and support our most vulnerable children, young people and their families across the continuum from prevention to guardianship and open adoption,” Ms Goward said.

“We are also working hard with parents to help them change when their children are at risk. When parents cannot change, our focus must be on prioritising the needs of the child for a safe, permanent and loving home for life.”

“Child Protection week is a time for the Ku-ring-gai community to reflect on what we can do to protect vulnerable children and young people and make sure they have stability, certainty and opportunity in their life,” State Member for Ku-ring-gai, Alister Henskens SC MP, said.

“By working together as a community, we can create a safer environment for our children,” Mr Henskens said.

2017-18 NSW Budget initiatives include:

• $95 million for Targeted Earlier Intervention to provide parenting, youth and family support programs
• $63 million over four years to boost the number of caseworkers working on the frontline, as well as deliver more casework support workers
• $25 million a year for new evidence based service models to improve family preservation through new Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN®) and Functional Family Therapy Child Welfare (FFT-CW®) services to help at least 900 children a year
• $30 million in new spending to support high needs children in out of home care.

 

Visit the Child Protection Week website to find out more and get involved in a local event to show your support.