Type:	Report
Title:	First progress update on the implementation of "putting people first" : addressing family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities
Authors:	Government of Western Australia
Keywords:	Indigenous issues;Child protection;Policy
Year:	2003
Publisher:	Government of Western Australia
Notes:	This is the first progress update on the implementation of the Western Australian Government’s response to the Gordon Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities:in June 2003. The Government Response, tabled in Parliament in December 2002, accepted: the urgent need to strengthen and improve responses to abuse and violence in Aboriginal communities; the need for long-term strategies to address the endemic nature of abuse and violence; and to meet the needs of current and future generations of Aboriginal children through long-term environmental, social and economic improvements that will lead to sustainable communities. The Government’s strategic response framework includes 4 themes: strengthening responses to child abuse and family violence; strengthening responses to vulnerable children and adults at risk; strengthening the safety of communities; and strengthening the governance, confidence, economic capacity and sustainability of communities. The tools or methods to enable their implementation are: information sharing; contemporary legislation; across-government collaboration and coordination; community engagement and participation; and staff as a major agent of change. The implementation reporting structure is provided. Government’s actions to date are reported according to these 4 themes. Advances on systemic change are provided according to 6 key areas: 1. the Government is on track to introduce the Children’s and Community Development Bill:to address the implementation of contemporary child protection legislation; 2. legislation has been drafted to amend the Health Act:1911 to mandate medical staff to report children under 13 years of age with a sexually transmitted infection, in order for the Health Department to share information with other relevant departments and enhance interagency child protection protocols; 3. legislation is being developed to require compulsory criminal records screening for people working in child-related employment; 4. drafting instructions have been prepared for information sharing to be included in the Privacy and Information Protection Bill:with protocols for the exchange of information introduced as an interim measure; 5. advocacy and accountability structures for children and young people are being developed, including the development of appropriate partnerships with central and line agencies; and 6. a child death review committee and an independent committee to review the death of particular children are established. The Government of Western Australia and Indigenous Leaders Roundtable Communiqu? and a schedule of funded initiatives being implemented in each region are in the Appendices.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19046
Physical description:	24 p.
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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