Boost for child protection in Cape York and Torres Strait

Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today announced $542,000 in funding to indigenous organisations to help better protect children in Cape York and Torres Strait.

This funding comes on top of substantial increases in staffing and resources for the Cape Torres Child Safety Service Centre.

In the last three years staffing numbers have tripled from 16 to 48 and the CapeTorres budget has gone from about $10 million to about $20 million.

“This isn’t enough. We need more support and better partnerships and that is what is behind today’s announcement. This funding was allocated in the last budget and there have been negotiations since then with the various indigenous organisations.

“This is about getting indigenous organisations to look after their kids in their own communities”, Ms Boyle said.

Last week, Minister Boyle visited the indigenous communities of MorningtonIsland (5 December) and Doomadgee (6 December) to speak to locals face-to-face about child safety issues.

“I saw first hand the level of neglect of children in these remote communities.

“It is really important that not only does the Department of Child Safety deliver services to communities but that the communities take responsibility themselves for the health and the wellbeing of the kids.

“It is dismaying that the number one problem is neglect. Too many children aren’t even getting fed properly.

”For it to get better over the years ahead we have to grow indigenous organisations in each of the communities and that is what this funding is about.

“The Queensland Government is working in partnership with these indigenous organisations in Cape York and the Torres Strait to better protect the children.

“Children taken into care have suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or neglect.

“In the case of Indigenous children, it is important we take into account any cultural considerations and we try to place Indigenous children with Indigenous carers so they don’t lose contact with their culture. Unfortunately, this is often not possible because we simply don’t have enough indigenous carers.

“These Indigenous organisations will give advice on major decisions involving Indigenous children who have been harmed or are at risk of harm – from whether they should be taken into care, to who they should stay with and what contact they should have with their natural parents,” Ms Boyle said.

The funding is going to:

·Aurukun Shire Council: $87,000 to provide services in the Aurukun area during 2006-07 and a one-off establishment grant of $7,000.

·Kowanyama Shire Council: $84,000 to provide services in the Kowanyama area during 2006-07 and a one-off establishment grant of $6,000.

·Napranum Shire Council: $83,000 to provide services in the Napranum area during 2006-07 and a one-off establishment grant of $5,000.

·Northern Peninsula Area Women’s Shelter Association Incorporated: $101,423 to provide services to the communities of Bamaga, Injinoo, Seisia, New Mapoon and Umagico, and a one-off establishment grant of $10,000.

·Port Kennedy Association Incorporated: $138,757 to provide services in the Torres Strait during 2006-07 and a one-off establishment grant of $20,000.

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said: “The organisations will work with Child Safety staff to provide cultural and family advice and participate in decision-making about the child protection needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

“For the first time, three of the Indigenous organisations were local councils.

“The funding includes allocations to the Aurukun, Kowanyama and Napranum Shire Councils. The councils will employ recognised entity co-ordinators who will be responsible for co-ordinating cultural advice on key decisions,” he said.

Ms Boyle said: “This funding is an example of the Queensland Government’s commitment to working with Indigenous communities to develop new and better ways of protecting and supporting children and young people.

“The latest annual allocation for Indigenous organisations is substantially more than before the Blueprint for implementing the Crime and Misconduct Commission’s recommendationswas released in 2004.

“The Queensland Government plans to allocate $15.6 million a year for Indigenous organisations to provide cultural advice – well up on the $2.8 million a year allocated before the Blueprint.

“The funding will extend the coverage of Indigenous organisations across all Aboriginal communities of Western Cape York and in the Torres Strait.”

“I know many Indigenous organisations have been too stretched to provide advice on all Indigenous children in the child protection system, so this extra money will be well spent,” Ms Boyle said.

Ends

Media contact: 3224 7477