The Child Safe Governance Review has handed down its final report with the Tasmanian Government announcing that it will accept and implement all 92 recommendations which will be critical to improving child safety and governance structures at the Launceston General Hospital, as well as the wider health system.
The Child Safe Governance Review’s Governance Advisory Panel has undertaken an extensive, forensic review of child safety and governance, with a specific focus on the handling of serious misconduct such as child sexual abuse.
The recommendations will strengthen child safety in our hospitals and health settings and will include child safety training, structural changes to reset executive culture, accountability of leadership and frameworks for reporting child safety concerns.
These recommendations include the seven interim recommendations announced in September that we committed to action immediately, with some already completed and further work underway.
Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff has said by taking this strong action, we will ensure that past wrongs are never repeated.
“Today is an important step as we work to rebuild the trust of the community,” Premier Rockliff said.
“We have accepted the recommendations in full, and we will implement them so that we keep our children and young people safe.”
Secretary of the Department of Health, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks has reaffirmed her commitment to driving large-scale change to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people is at the centre of their care.
“I commit to ensuring each and every person within the Department of Health takes individual and collective responsibility for safeguarding children,” the Secretary said.
“To ensure that the Department implements the recommendations in line with their intent, I am pleased that the Co-Chairs of the Governance Advisory Panel – Debora Picone and Karen Crawshaw – have agreed to continue on in an independent oversight advisory role to oversee the implementation.”
The Government’s commitment to implementing the 92 recommendations in full shows how serious it is to drive immediate change that embeds child safety across our hospitals and health services.
The Premier and Secretary thanked those who participated in the Review, including the Co-Chairs, highly credentialed experts, staff and union representatives.
In particular, victim-survivors have played an incredibly important role through the Expert Reference Group and their bravery and courage are commended.
To read the full report and complete recommendations from the Child Safe Governance Review, visit: www.health.tas.gov.au/