Protecting Tasmania’s vulnerable children

12 November 2020

Roger Jaensch MP

2020-21 Budget: Protecting Tasmania’s vulnerable children

Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmania’s vulnerable children and young people, especially those in Out of Home Care, is a key priority for the Tasmanian Liberal Government in the 2020-21 State Budget.

More than $55 million over the Budget and Forward Estimates is provided to meet ongoing demand in Out of Home Care.

We are continuing our investment in the long term Strong families Safe Kids redesign of the child safety system along with other key commitments, including progressing permanency options for children in Out of Home Care.

The Budget also locks in funding for the redevelopment of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC). Over $6 million is provided to make AYDC fit for purpose and part of a modern, integrated statewide therapeutic youth justice model that will help young people in detention turn their lives around.

The Budget also includes a number of child safety measures as part of the Government’s response to COVID-19, with $2.1 million committed over two years to provide:

• One-off $200 payments to foster and kinship carers for essential cleaning and hygiene products;
• One-off $200 payments for children/young people in care to ensure they have internet access and are provided with mobile technology;
• Up to $1.2 million for an enhanced After-Hours Response Service to deliver additional after hours support for children and families at risk;
• $480,000 to enable the Therapeutic Residential Care program to keep one additional house open for a six month period;
• $50,000 to CREATE, to enable enhanced engagement and advocacy for children and young people in foster care, kinship care and residential care;
• $200,000 to establish an informal kinship carer liaison and support function;
• $53,000 to extend the Carer Support Hotline; and
• $70,000 for the Flexible Active Families Fund to support children and families receiving family preservation or family restoration services or Intensive Family Engagement Services, to access essential cleaning and hygiene products and mobile communication technologies.

The investment in this year’s State Budget in protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmania’s vulnerable children and young people means we are investing in making our community stronger.