30 April 2009
Vulnerable children to receive one-on-one care
There was an article in The Age this morning that reported the Victorian Government will announce 100 new one-on-one placements for the most vulnerable children in State care as part of a $135 million child welfare initiative in this year's Budget (New approach to child protection). Anglicare Victoria welcomes such an initiative as it would not only improve opportunities for those children in care but would help protect other children who may be at risk from their violent or challenging behaviour. Some of these children have had shocking incidence of abuse carried out upon them and they need intensive care and support to address those issues, build trust and move forward in a positive way. Unfortunately, as we have read recently in reports of a young boy who has been alleged to have abused another 12-year-old in care, some of the most traumatised children can be a risk to others when housed together in residential care. These proposed one-on-one placements will give specialist carers a chance to work intensively with the children and will ensure they cannot harm or negatively influence other children who are in a vulnerable position. Other spending initiatives mentioned in the article today include early intervention for children at risk and training and support for relatives called on to care for their grandchild, niece or nephew. Together, these measure will go some way towards addressing the current crisis in child welfare services. Anglicare Victoria is the State's largest provider of out-of-home care services and we have been campaigning for some time for the introduction of professional carers to addresses declining volunteer numbers and the introduction of therapeutic care models for all children. Hopefully these proposed new measures are the first signs of a policy shift towards increased resources for the most vulnerable people in the State - children and young people in State care. The Minister and government is to be commended for this initiative.
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