Overview
The New South Wales Department of Community Services (DoCS) is the largest child protection agency in Australia. We help keep children safe from harm and provide care for those who cannot live at home.
DoCS helps children and young people by providing support and care to them, their families and their communities. Our core work focuses on child protection. This begins early on with prevention and early intervention strategies, such as children’s services and the Brighter Futures program, to help build strong families and communities and help children grow to have positive lives.
DoCS works in partnership with other government agencies, non-government organisations, community groups and the public to assess the strengths and needs of families and communities and develop and deliver a wide range of services.
DoCS provides services through the head office in Ashfield (Sydney), 17 regional offices, and 80 Community Services Centres delivering frontline services.
The DoCS Helpline (ph 132 111) is a 24 hour statewide telephone service to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
DoCS operates within the legal framework set by the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, the Community Welfare Act 1987 and the Adoptions Act 2000. For more information about this legislation, including amendments over the 2006/07 year, please see Appendix 1.
The programs and activities detailed in the Annual Report are based on objectives and performance targets identified in DoCS’ corporate plan 2004/05-2008/09, as well as in our annual corporate directions statements, meeting our statutory reporting responsibilities. A copy of DoCS’ corporate plan and corporate directions are available on our website www.community.nsw.gov.au.
Our vision
A NSW where families and communities value, protect and nurture children and young people
Our values
Integrity Excellence Respect Trust Openness Fairness Teamwork
