What we do
The Department’s key responsibilities are:
- providing protection for children at risk of harm
- providing funding, accommodation and support services for children and young people who can no longer live at home
- funding and regulating children’s services such as preschools and day care centres
- coordinating recovery services to help people affected by disasters
- offering community support services to help homeless people and families move to independent living
How we help
Together with partners in government, business and the community, we:
- assess the strengths and needs of families and communities
- develop and deliver a range of services
- monitor, evaluate, research and analyse to improve policy and service development.
Who we help
Our clients include:
- children and young people in need of care and protection
- families and communities needing help and support
- our partners in service delivery, including service providers, local government and State and Commonwealth Government agencies
- collaborators and recipients of our data and research findings (research organisations, universities, students and the public)
The State Plan, A New Direction for NSW, was launched on 14 November, 2006.
The Department of Community Services has lead agency responsibility for two State Plan priorities:
F6: Increased proportion of children with skills for life and learning at school entry
F7: Reduced rates of child abuse and neglect
In this context, the Department is working to achieve the following results:
- Children, young people and their families are supported so children reach developmental milestones
- Where a child or young person is at risk and the Department determines that it must intervene, the child or young person and any relevant siblings are safe following that intervention
- Children and young people who are removed from their family are cared for in a safe, well-functioning and stable placement and are successfully restored to their families where appropriate
- Strong communities that have the ability and support to identify and solve problems as they arise and provide an environment where everyone can reach their full potential, and
- The victims of natural or other disasters are supported to recover and resume self sufficient living.
