NEW GROUP TO HELP INDIGENOUS KIDS IN CARE

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech today welcomed the launch of a new Peak Body for Recognised Entities (RE) – organisations that provide essential services to Queensland’s at risk children.

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Partnership has secured registration as a limited public company under the Corporations Act 2001 and is registered as Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Limited (QATSCIPP).

Mrs Keech said she thanked the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council for acting as the peak body for recognised entities since 2004.

“I would like to congratulate the new peak body on achieving incorporation in its own right – this is a significant step in the development of Queensland’s services to our at risk indigenous children,” Mrs Keech said.

“The separate incorporation means that REs, through the new Peak, can forge a new identity which focuses solely on child protection.

“The Peak Body provides a direct line between REs and the Department creating a closer relationship for their input on legislation, policy and practice,” Mrs Keech said.

Mrs Keech said the Bligh Government provides more than $800,000 for QATSCIPP to deliver these peak body functions and services.

“Our Toward Q2 strategy is about partnerships and fairness and this funding is delivering on that commitment,” Mrs Keech said

“One of the most important challenges we face is the over-representation of Indigenous children in the child protection system and I look forward to working with QATSCIPP as we tackle this issue.

“To do so we are building a first-class child protection system and partnerships such as this are critical to its on-going success,” Mrs Keech said.

Mrs Keech said there are 29 organisations providing Recognised Entity services to all 48 of the Department’s Child Safety Service Centres.

“QATSCIPP will play an important role and I congratulate all those involved taking up the challenge and look forward to working with you,” she said.

“We know that it takes a whole community to keep our children safe and partnerships such as this bring that belief to life.”

ENDS

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