OOHC reform on track

The transition of children and young people in statutory care (and all incoming cases) from Community Services to non-government agencies has begun. Community Services is keen to continue building partnerships with the NGO sector to ensure its success.

Community Services, ACWA (Association of Child Welfare Agencies) and AbSec believe it’s important that opportunities for joint work, joint decision-making and joint reflection on good practice continues and permeates across the system at all levels – from governance arrangements established under the Implementation Framework through to everyday practice.

Community Services supports reform

Community Services new CE Maree Walk has been lobbying for reform: “Ultimately, it’s about helping vulnerable children and families, and improving services, accountability and transparency. We need better outcomes for our clients.

“The Government’s reform agenda in OOHC is about providing services as close to the child as possible, harnessing the services of the whole of the child protection and child wellbeing sector, and getting all necessary services for children delivered in a timely and coordinated manner.”

Community Services will continue to play an active role in supporting agencies through informal capacity-building activities. Areas of continued collaboration include: seconding staff, joint training, exchange programs, mentoring and participation on recruitment panels.

More information about implementation of the reform is available on the Community Services website.