Queensland minister takes fight for children in care to Canberra

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech is taking the fight to Canberra to back her plan to protect the health of Queensland’s abused and neglected children and young people.

Mrs Keech heads to a meeting of state, territory and Australian Government ministers in Canberra next week to demand Medicare changes for children and young people in care.

“We need the Australian Government to expand the Medicare benefits schedule so the expenses of health checks for children in care are covered,” Mrs Keech said.

“Children who come into care often do not have a perfect bill of health due to the neglect and abuse they have suffered.

“So it is crucial we do everything in our power to ensure the at risk children of Queensland and Australia get the medical treatment they deserve.

“We need the Federal Health Minister to create a special Medicare item number so that GPs can bill our health checks for children in care straight back to the Commonwealth.

“Health checks for Child Health Passports can cost up to $250 and because this is not currently covered by Medicare, some GP’s are reluctant to perform them.

“A Child Health Passport takes considerable time and we need to support our hard-working and very busy GP’s.

“And just as importantly we need to support our foster and kinship carers.

“This lack of Medicare coverage leaves our carers out-of-pocket, creating a financial burden for the people who are the heart and soul of Queensland’s child protection system,” Mrs Keech said.

“Our carers are the ones who open their homes and hearts to abused and neglected children and young people and we need to give them every support possible, especially if they are caring for more than one child.

“Research indicates that children entering care often have poorer health outcomes than the average child,” Mrs Keech said.

“I want to ensure the children and young people who most deserve health care, the abused and neglected, are given that access.

“We need to make sure children coming into care are having full and regular health checks.

“As it stands, when children are placed into care, foster carers are often paying up front for medical expenses and being left out of pocket until they are reimbursed by the Department of Child Safety.

“In the end it’s the Queensland tax payer left footing a federal bill,” Mrs Keech said.

“The Federal Government says its committed to a National Framework and working with the States and territories, well this is an ideal opportunity for them to demonstrate that commitment.

“This could be the first key plank in our National Child Protection Framework, making sure Medicare covers medical expenses for children who’ve already experienced enough disadvantage.

Mrs Keech has placed the issue on next week’s Ministerial Council Meeting for Health, Community Services and Disability, aiming for a breakthrough after the idea was ignored by the Howard Government.

“One of my goals for the Department of Child Safety is innovation and continual improvement and we must provide new ways to improve the health of our at risk children,” Mrs Keech said.

“By expanding the reach of Medicare, adding just one number to the current benefits schedule, children in care will have access to health care and their wonderful carers will not be out of pocket.”

Mrs Keech said she was confident the proposal would receive the support from her state and territory ministerial colleagues.

ENDS

Media Contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236