New service to provide safe homes for abused youngsters

A new Woodridge-based service will help provide safe homes for Indigenous children and young people who have been abused or neglected by their families.

Speaking at the official opening of Ganyjuu Placement Services today, Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said the service would play a vital role in supporting vulnerable Indigenous children and young people.

“When Indigenous children are unable to live safely with their families, Ganyjuu will work with the Department of Child Safety to seek suitable foster and kinship carers who can provide the child with a safe, stable and loving home,” Mrs Keech said.

“Ganyjuu will identify, assess, train and support carers to provide homes for around 100 abused and neglected Indigenous children and young people in Logan and Brisbane’s south-west.”

The Department of Child Safety will provide funding of up to $1.56 million over a three year period to Ganyjuu Placement Services. The funds come on top of the $380,634 per annum that the department already provides to Ganyjuu for recognised entity services.

“The new placement service complements the great work that Ganyjuu is already doing as a recognised entity, providing cultural advice to the Department of Child Safety,” Mrs Keech said.

Member for Woodridge Desley Scott said the service was a welcome addition to the regions child protection services

“Organisations such as Ganyjuu are involved in any major decisions involving Indigenous children who have been harmed or who are at risk,” Mrs Scott said

“They provide advice on whether children should be taken into care, who they should stay with, how to keep them in contact with their culture and a range of other issues.

“They also help explain the child protection system to the children, parents and carers.”

“With the addition of an ingidenous foster care placement service the at risk children of Woodridge are in even safer hands when it comes to their protection.”

Mrs Keech said the Bligh Government was committed to addressing the high number of Indigenous children and young people in Queensland’s child protection system.

“At 31 March this year there were about 1,100 children and young people in care in Logan and Brisbane’s south-west. About 20 per cent of these children were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent,” Mrs Keech said.

“The Bligh Government is committed to working with Indigenous organisations such as Ganyjuu and local communities to protect and support these vulnerable young people.

“However, we can’t do it alone.

“Child protection is a tremendous responsibility and the Government needs the support and assistance of individuals, local communities and community organisations to shoulder this responsibility.”

Mrs Keech said a key way to help was for more community members to become foster or kinship carers.

“There is an urgent need for more people to provide homes and love to children and young people who have faced abuse and neglect,” she said.

“There is also a particular need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers.

“If you have a roof, a spare bed and room in your heart to care for a young person in need, I urge you to seriously consider becoming a foster carer.”

The Department of Child Safety’s 2008-09 Budget includes approximately $13.2 million in grants for non-government organisations to provide safe places for Indigenous children and young people requiring out-of-home care.

The government will also provide more than $16 million to Indigenous organisations such as Ganyjuu to take part in major decisions regarding Indigenous children who have been harmed or who are at risk.

For more information on becoming a foster or kinship carer, call 1300 550 877 or visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.

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Media contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236