Events
Child Safety Commission of Inquiry – Public Hearing
Child Safety Commission of Inquiry – Public Hearing
The Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety has today announced it will hold its first regional hearing in Cairns from Monday, 8th to Friday, 26th September.
Find out times and view the livecast here.
The Commissioner has identified key issues he intends to explore at this round of hearings.
The full list of issues is published on the Commission’s website. Some of these include:
- regional challenges for the system in Far North Queensland
- the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child safety system
- the removal of newborn children from their mothers
- the disproportionate increase in the number of children in state care in Queensland
- the level of support provided to foster and kinship carers
- the operation of non-family based residential care and the use of this model of care for children under 12.
The Commission will hear evidence from various government departments and non-government entities, peak industry bodies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, foster carers, kinship carers and frontline workers, among others.
At this stage, the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service have been given leave to appear at the Cairns hearing to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are given prominence.
While in Cairns, the Commissioner will also seek to hold direct, private consultations with children and young people with experience of the child safety system.
The Commission encourages those who have had experience and contact with the child protection system to make a submission relating to any matter within its Terms of Reference by visiting the Child Safety Inquiry website.
