New child and family services to support northwest Queensland

The Palaszczuk Government is investing more than $17 million over five years to deliver new community-based services – including specialist domestic and family violence support – to help vulnerable children and families in northwest Queensland.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said tenders opened today for the new Family and Child Connect (FaCC) services and Intensive Family services (IFS) and specialist domestic and family violence services.

“We know that half of all households who come into contact with the child safety system also experience domestic and family violence,” Ms Fentiman said.

“That’s why it makes sense for child and family and, domestic and family violence services to be located together so that Mount Isa and the Gulf children and families receive the support they need to safely stay together.

“This is a great opportunity to bring services together in an integrated and seamless way to support families holistically and it builds on my announcement in May for Mount Isa to be one of the first sites for regionally-based integrated services.”

Ms Fentiman said the FaCC services were a vital part of the Palaszczuk Government’s child safety reform program.

“We want to keep children in Queensland safe from harm – no matter where they live,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Family and Child Connect services aim to give vulnerable families better access to the information, support and referrals they need to get back on track and to stop small problems from escalating into bigger ones.

“By working together, these services will mean that local families at risk of statutory child protection intervention will no longer need to go through the door of Child Safety Services to get the help they need.”

Ms Fentiman said tenders close at 2pm on September 21, 2016.

“The Family and Child Connect and Intensive Family services are part of a $406 million commitment over five years to revitalise the state’s child protection system and better support vulnerable children and their families,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We are committed to implementing the recommendations made by the Child Protection Commission of Inquiry and to keeping Queensland children and families safe.”

Tenders are available on the QTenders website https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/index.do

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