May 2024 – Page 29

NSW Government announces urgent action to repair broken foster care system

The NSW Government will establish an urgent review of the foster care system following a damning report that details the first-hand experiences of the state’s most vulnerable young people in emergency accommodation.

The review will examine the overreliance on emergency accommodation and investigate how taxpayer money is being spent by non-government providers.

The report by the Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP) is a compilation of confronting first-hand stories from young people placed in hotels and motels and other High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) after being removed from their families.

The ACYP conducted 19 private hearings across the state in areas including Bathurst, Dubbo, Forbes, Northern Rivers, Central Coast, Wollongong, Western Sydney and the Inner West. Young people described a system where they were left alone in emergency accommodation in extremely unsafe situations.

One young person describes their experience in emergency accommodation as making them feel like a “dog being moved from cage to cage”.

“It was just me on my own around… full-grown adults on drugs, homeless people, people with mental illnesses… it was disgusting,” said one young person.

Another described being in emergency care from the age of 10 or 12, “just in motels, caravan parks, whatever they can find.…it’s pretty bad. I was put in $99 a night rooms, and I’d be in one room and then the workers would be 10 rooms down.”

Another said, “After a little while I started to play with my Lego again but that took about maybe a month and a half before I started to do anything other than just sit there and cry.”

These stories are shocking examples of a system where the use of emergency arrangements has skyrocketed, resulting in a spiralling out-of-home care budget crisis combined with worsening outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

HCEAs can cost upwards of $2 million a year for each child, costing taxpayers more than $38,000 a week. By comparison, a child in foster care costs the state the maximum of $74,000 annually, or just over $1400 a week.

The NSW Government has begun work to tackle the cost of emergency accommodation through a dedicated team that moves children from HCEAs to more suitable arrangements. This has resulted in a 16% decrease in the number of children in HCEAs, from 506 children on 2 November 2023 to 427 on 31 March 2024.

The ACYP’s report, titled Moving Cage to Cage: An interim report of the Special Inquiry into children and young people in alternative care arrangements, will be released today with the Special Inquiry’s final findings expected to be tabled in NSW Parliament mid-2024.

Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington said:

“This report is heartbreaking; these kids’ stories are harrowing.

“As the Minister and as a mum I’m horrified to hear that there are children in the child protection system who feel like they’re animals, being moved from cage to cage.

“But it’s important that we hear the voices of these children, that we listen, and we act.

“Under the former government, the use of hotels and motels for vulnerable children skyrocketed, and the child protection system was left to spiral out of control.

“We have begun the work to repair the system, but we have a long road to travel to make sure we deliver the best outcomes for young people and taxpayers.

“Our urgent review will uncover ways we can give vulnerable kids the future they deserve, starting with a stable, loving home instead of hotels and motels with rotating shift workers.”

The Advocate for Children and Young People, Zoë Robinson said:

“As the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, I look forward to working with the NSW Government and community, to ensure that all children and young people in care settings are given every opportunity to thrive – in safe, caring environments.

“Today’s response by the NSW Government recognises the power of listening to children and young people and understanding how decisions impact their lives.

“The children and young people who have shared their stories with the Special Inquiry want stability and care. The evidence received to date highlights that high-cost arrangements and alternative care arrangements are clearly falling well short of that.

“I believe that ongoing work is required to ensure the voices of children and young people in care are included in policy and lifted to government, and I will continue engaging with children and young people until the final report of the Special Inquiry is tabled in NSW Parliament later this year.”

Campbelltown Hospital marks milestone as historic redevelopment is completed

Campbelltown Hospital is today marking an historic milestone with Deputy Premier Prue Car and Health Minister Ryan Park officially opening the new northern entrance, the last of the major works in the $632 million Stage 2 redevelopment.

The new northern entrance links directly into the main hospital concourse, Hospital Street, providing easy access to amenities and healthcare services for patients, visitors and staff.

Since construction began in 2018, the redevelopment has delivered a stunning 12-storey clinical services building, the centrepiece of the project, as well as extensive refurbishments across the hospital campus.

The new state-of-the-art building is enabling contemporary world-class care for the Macarthur region with 158,044 emergency department presentations, 9,619 surgical procedures performed, and 6,300 babies born since it opened in June 2022.

Key features of the building include:

Significantly expanded Emergency Department, which includes a satellite imaging area, two dedicated children’s resuscitation bays, and a special end-of-life room for families to farewell and grieve the passing of loved ones
New Intensive Care Unit with capacity to increase the number of beds in the future
Expanded surgical services including interventional radiology
New digital operating theatres and procedure rooms
New children’s unit, children’s ambulatory care and children’s allied health clinic, including specialised equipment for assessment and observation of young patients
Expanded maternity and women’s services including additional birthing suites with baths and dedicated ultrasound and interview rooms, and
Centrally located mental health services, including a specialised older persons unit, civil secure rehabilitation unit for adults and mental health intensive care.

Services and buildings across the Campbelltown Hospital campus also received major refurbishments, including the expansion of the hospital’s pathology laboratory, renal dialysis unit, pharmacy, clinical information department and cancer therapy centre and a new dental centre – a first for the hospital.

The beautiful artworks throughout the new building place country, culture and creativity at the heart of the redevelopment and have received international recognition, winning major European Healthcare Design Awards.

With more than 133,000 new residents expected to call the Macarthur region home during the next 12 years, the redevelopment is ensuring the community has access to a broader range of healthcare services close to home.

The project follows the completion of the $134 million Stage 1 redevelopment of the hospital in 2016, and the completion of the $34.1 million car park in 2020.

The Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building, which is currently under construction, is a partnership between South Western Sydney Local Health District, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Western Sydney University and UNSW Sydney, with dedicated funding from Walker Corporation.

The new build adjoins the Western Sydney University’s Macarthur Clinical School on the hospital campus and will complement the newly redeveloped hospital and the broader Campbelltown Health and Education Precinct. The new Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building will locate medical research expertise alongside health care services.

Deputy Premier Prue Car said:

“Campbelltown is at the centre of one of the fastest growing regions in NSW with more than 133,000 people to call this district home with the next 12 years.

“This redevelopment has transformed healthcare services to meet the Macarthur community’s healthcare needs well into the future.’’

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Everyone involved in helping shape Campbelltown Hospital’s transformation should be immensely proud of their efforts knowing how much this means for the growing south west Sydney community.

“I want to particularly thank the staff at Campbelltown Hospital for their continued care of the community during the construction of this massive project, which occurred as we faced the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:

“Like many local residents, I have watched the redevelopment emerge from the ground up into the building that is now dominating the skyline of our city.

“I could not be more impressed with our new hospital. I congratulate the countless number of staff, patients and the community who have worked together to develop this incredibly modern health facility that we are all so proud of.

Member for Camden Sally Quinnell said:

“This redevelopment supports world-class health care for our community close to home, reducing the need to travel outside our region for care.

Grant Isedale, General Manager, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals said:

“The completion of the Stage 2 redevelopment is an historic milestone for Campbelltown Hospital.

“It has given our staff, patients and community an incredible new clinical services building, which is at the cutting-edge of healthcare with new technology and innovation.

“This is a special and proud day for our staff and patients.

“The new hospital building and the many refurbishments across the campus will serve as a wonderful legacy to the Macarthur community.’’

Tackling online harms

Ending men’s violence against women and tackling misogyny and the harm it creates requires concerted action from all levels of government and all parts of society and we are building on investments already made in this space.

To build on our prevention efforts, the Albanese Government will introduce a suite of online measures to address easy access to pornography for children and young people and tackle extreme online misogyny, which is fuelling harmful attitudes towards women.

The Albanese Government will provide resourcing to conduct a pilot of age assurance technology to protect children from harmful content, like pornography and other age-restricted online services.

The new pilot, to be funded in the May Budget, is part of a suite of interventions aimed at curbing easy access to damaging material by children and young people, and tackling extreme misogyny online.

The pilot will identify available age assurance products to protect children from online harm, and test their efficacy, including in relation to privacy and security.

The outcomes will inform the existing work of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner under the Online Safety Act – including through the development of industry codes or standards – to reduce children’s exposure to age-inappropriate material.

The Albanese Government will introduce legislation to ban the creation and non-consensual distribution of deepfake pornography. Digitally created and altered sexually explicit material is a damaging form of abuse against women and girls that can inflict deep harm on victims.

The reforms will make clear that creating and sharing sexually explicit material without consent, using technology like artificial intelligence will be subject to serious criminal penalties.

In addition, a new phase of the successful Stop it at the Start campaign will launch in mid-June and run until May next year. This new phase will specifically include a counter-influencing campaign in online spaces where violent and misogynistic content thrives, to directly challenge the material in the spaces it’s being viewed.

The campaign is intended to counter the corrosive influence of online content targeted at young adults that condones violence against women. It will raise awareness about a proliferation of misogynistic influencers and content, and encourage conversations within families about the damaging impact of the material.

The new phase of Stop It at the Start builds on the investment already made by our Government to fund a three-year trial to explore what works best to counteract the harmful impacts of social media messaging targeting young men and boys.

Research shows 25 per cent of teenage boys in Australia look up to social media personalities who perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes. Social media algorithms can undermine gender equality by pushing misogynistic content that normalises sexist attitudes in young people.

There is also growing concern around the role of violent online pornography in normalising gendered violence within the Australian community.

In response to these concerns, the Government is undertaking long overdue classification reforms with states and territories which will examine options to reduce exposure to violent pornography, informed by engagement with experts and best available evidence about harms.

The Government will also bring forward legislation in early August to outlaw the release of private information online with an intent to cause harm (known as doxxing), and overhaul the Privacy Act to give all Australians and particularly women who are experiencing domestic and family violence greater control and transparency over their personal information.

The Albanese Government has already acted to keep women safe online, including by quadrupling ongoing base funding for the eSafety Commissioner in last year’s budget.

The Government has also initiated a review of the Online Safety Act a year ahead of schedule to ensure our laws are keeping up with emerging online threats and harms.

But we need to do more to ensure our laws and regulations are fit for purpose in a digital age.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“There should be zero tolerance for harmful content that glorifies violence against Australian women. Young adults should not be coached in disrespect or misogyny by online influencers.
“I understand parents want to protect their kids from harmful material online. Social platforms have important social responsibilities and we need them to step up. Taken together, these reforms will give Australian families some of the tools they need to navigate the complexity of the digital world.”

Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland

“The reality is that digital platforms are influencing our culture and social lives. They have a responsibility to do more to meet community standards.
“The Government will progress its age assurance pilot to address access to age inappropriate content, including online pornography and other age-restricted services.
“Taking steps to prevent access for minors to age-inappropriate content like pornography is one tool that can help protect young minds from damaging and misogynistic behaviours.
“The pilot – coupled with work already underway to update our out-dated Classification Scheme – will inform how Governments at all levels can work collaboratively to address these harms.”

“To end violence against women in one generation we need to raise boys and young men to approach relationships with respect.
“Often it is very hard for parents and caregivers to know what type of environments their young people are experiencing online. We need to look at how we empower young people to have those conversations with adults in their life and empower those adults to start those conversations.
“Stop It at the Start has been a hugely successful campaign helping parents and other adult influencers have conversations about respectful relationships. Launching a new phase to specifically counter negative influences particularly in online spaces where misogynistic content thrives is so important to ending this national shame of violence against women.”

the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus:

“The increasing use of online platforms to harm people, particularly women, through the malicious release of their personal information is deeply disturbing.
“Digitally created and altered sexually explicit material is a deeply distressing form of abuse against women and girls and can cause long-lasting harm.
“These reforms will make clear that those who seek to abuse or degrade women through doxxing, deepfakes, or by abusing their privacy online, will be subject to serious criminal penalties.”

the Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher:

“Women and children have the right to be safe, and the use of online tools and spaces to perpetuate violence, misogyny and sexism must be stopped.
“These important initiatives will tackle emerging threats to women and girls’ safety and participation online and will support young people, particularly young men, to have healthier and more positive relationships, attitudes and behaviours.”

Helping women leave a violent partner payment

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to ending family, domestic and sexual violence in a generation. This is a national crisis.

We want women to know if they need to leave they can afford to go.

We understand the insidious links between financial insecurity and stress and vulnerability to family and domestic violence. Too often, financial insecurity can be a barrier to escaping violence.

That’s why the Government will invest $925.2 million over five years to permanently establish the Leaving Violence Program – so those escaping violence can receive financial support, safety assessments and referrals to support pathways.

Those eligible will be able to access up to $5,000 in financial support along with referral services, risk assessments and safety planning.

This commitment builds on a record $2.3 billion in measures put in place by the Albanese Government to help address violence against women.

Further, the Albanese Government has expanded eligibility for parenting payment single – helping 82,000 more single parents remain on higher payment rates until their youngest child turns 14; legislated ten days paid family and domestic violence leave; increased rent assistance with the largest increase in 30 years; and invested in crisis accommodation and affordable housing for women and children escaping violence.

Intimate partner violence is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced it in their lifetime.

The Leaving Violence Program will support victim-survivors of intimate partner violence to make informed choices about leaving violent relationships and receive the vital support they need.

The Leaving Violence Program is a key initiative in the upcoming May Budget to help support the aims of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 to end violence in one generation. The program will contribute to improved safety, economic security, and independence for victim-survivors.

This makes permanent the Escaping Violence Program trial. More than 45,000 Australians have accessed the EVP payment since 2021. A total of 80 per cent of those accessing the support were self-referrals meaning without this program they may have fallen through the cracks of the support system.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The heartbreaking reality is that there is no overnight solution to violence against women and children.
“My Government is absolutely committed to making progress to end family, domestic and sexual violence in one generation through our National Plan.
“Today’s announcement builds on our efforts to ensure fewer women feel trapped in a violent relationship because they don’t know if they can afford to leave.”

the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

“Violence against women is a national shame. Every time a woman loses her life at the hands of a man, it is a death that is one too many and we know this is an issue that warrants our focused and serious attention.
“Research has shown us that financial barriers can be a huge impediment to victim-survivors breaking free of a violent relationship and we are determined to reduce those barriers along with providing other supports to assist those fleeing violence.
“We need persistent, consistent and unified action on this issue in order to create real change and this investment will mean there is a permanent lifeline for those people experiencing intimate partner violence.”

the Minister for Women Katy Gallagher:

“Like every Australian, and especially women across the country – I am distressed and frustrated at the crisis of men’s violence against women in this country. This is a crisis, and it is a national shame.
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to ending the epidemic of violence against women and children in this country. We have been focused on this since day one and have taken a number of actions to drive end violence and support women who experience it, and we know we must continue to do more.
“We recognise that a lot of the issues that women face can be improved if they have economic security and improving women’s economic empowerment will continue to be a core focus of our government.”

The Leaving Violence Program will provide eligible victim-survivors with an individualised financial support package of up to $1,500 in cash and up to $3,500 in goods and services, as well as safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other essential services for up to 12 weeks.

The payment amount will be indexed annually to keep in pace with the rising cost of living, ensuring recipients are given the best support when leaving violent relationships.

The program will commence in mid-2025, following the procurement of an appropriate service provider with family, domestic and sexual violence experience, and the transition of the existing pilots into the program.

Both the Escaping Violence Payment trial and the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot will be extended to 30 June 2025.

For information about both trials visit the DSS website.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.