Published Friday, 01 December, 2006 at 01:25 PM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
$2.53million boost for cultural needs of Far North’s indigenous children in care
More than half the children in care in the Far North are indigenous and the Queensland Government is working in partnership with Wu Chopperen Health Services to make sure their cultural and safety needs are met.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the Beattie Government had allocated $2.53million over the next three years to Wu Chopperen to provide cultural advice for Indigenous children in care in Cairns.
“It is dreadful that some children are safer away, rather than in the care of, their parents,” Ms Boyle said.
“Children that are taken into care have suffered or are at risk of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect, so we need to be extra careful with them.
“In the case of Indigenous children, it is important we take into account any cultural considerations and we aim to place indigenous children with indigenous carers so they don’t lose contact with their culture.
“Organisations such as Wu Chopperen are involved in any major decisions involving an indigenous child in care – from whether they should be taken into care, to who they should stay with and what contact they should have with their natural parents.
“They also help explain the child safety system to foster carers and to parents,” she said.
Ms Boyle said having input from indigenous people meant decisions about indigenous children could, for example, better judge the local community’s attitude to the situation and whether a child was better off staying with a relative in another community.
Wu Chopperen will receive $797,700 each year for three years, as well as a one-off grant of $78,000 for set up costs and building modifications and a one-off grant of $59,100 to deliver interim support to children in care in the Yarrabah, Mossman and Kuranda areas.
This year’s annual allocation for Wu Chopperen is three-and-a-half times more than before the Blueprint for implementing the Crime and Misconduct Commission’s recommendations was released in 2004 and will enable them to employ around an extra seven staff, providing better services for indigenous children.
“I know many indigenous organisations have been too stretched to provide advice on all the indigenous children in care, so this extra money will be well spent,” Ms Boyle said.
It is part of the government’s plan to allocate $15.6million a year for indigenous organisations to provide this advice. Before the Blueprint, the allocation was $2.8million a year. This latest funding means that so far, $11.52million a year has been allocated.
Ms Boyle said there were about 500 children in care in the Far North, including about 300 indigenous children.
Across Queensland, there are over 1200 indigenous children in care, but only about 500 indigenous foster carers.
“Our foster carers do an amazing job, but we really do need more of them, and especially more indigenous carers,” Ms Boyle said.
People interested in becoming foster carers can phone 1800 550 877 or go to www.childsafety.qld.gov.au and click on the foster carers link for more information.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the Beattie Government had allocated $2.53million over the next three years to Wu Chopperen to provide cultural advice for Indigenous children in care in Cairns.
“It is dreadful that some children are safer away, rather than in the care of, their parents,” Ms Boyle said.
“Children that are taken into care have suffered or are at risk of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect, so we need to be extra careful with them.
“In the case of Indigenous children, it is important we take into account any cultural considerations and we aim to place indigenous children with indigenous carers so they don’t lose contact with their culture.
“Organisations such as Wu Chopperen are involved in any major decisions involving an indigenous child in care – from whether they should be taken into care, to who they should stay with and what contact they should have with their natural parents.
“They also help explain the child safety system to foster carers and to parents,” she said.
Ms Boyle said having input from indigenous people meant decisions about indigenous children could, for example, better judge the local community’s attitude to the situation and whether a child was better off staying with a relative in another community.
Wu Chopperen will receive $797,700 each year for three years, as well as a one-off grant of $78,000 for set up costs and building modifications and a one-off grant of $59,100 to deliver interim support to children in care in the Yarrabah, Mossman and Kuranda areas.
This year’s annual allocation for Wu Chopperen is three-and-a-half times more than before the Blueprint for implementing the Crime and Misconduct Commission’s recommendations was released in 2004 and will enable them to employ around an extra seven staff, providing better services for indigenous children.
“I know many indigenous organisations have been too stretched to provide advice on all the indigenous children in care, so this extra money will be well spent,” Ms Boyle said.
It is part of the government’s plan to allocate $15.6million a year for indigenous organisations to provide this advice. Before the Blueprint, the allocation was $2.8million a year. This latest funding means that so far, $11.52million a year has been allocated.
Ms Boyle said there were about 500 children in care in the Far North, including about 300 indigenous children.
Across Queensland, there are over 1200 indigenous children in care, but only about 500 indigenous foster carers.
“Our foster carers do an amazing job, but we really do need more of them, and especially more indigenous carers,” Ms Boyle said.
People interested in becoming foster carers can phone 1800 550 877 or go to www.childsafety.qld.gov.au and click on the foster carers link for more information.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477