Commonwealth and states agree to work together

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Zed Seselja, welcomed constructive discussion during today’s Community Services Ministers meeting in Sydney around improving the out of home care system around Australia and in particular providing more stable homes for our children.

“I am pleased that the states and territories have agreed to pursue reform to create improved permanency outcomes for our children.”

Minister Seselja said the Commonwealth will work collaboratively with the state and territory governments to drive improvements to permanency outcomes for children in out-of-home care, including through Permanent Care Orders, permanent care arrangements and adoption.

“Evidence shows overwhelmingly that a sense of security, stability, and continuity in childhood means a child will be in better off as they enter adulthood if we provide them more stability early on.”

Community Services Ministers have endorsed the development of a set of guiding principles to enhance consistency in permanent care arrangements across jurisdictions.

Improving timeliness of permanent care decisions and supporting practitioners in making timely permanency decisions are priority areas to focus on in this collaboration.

“The Commonwealth is absolutely committed to leading these reforms to create improved permanency outcomes for children, including adoption.”