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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
New SCAN system gives Gold Coast children greater protection |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Feb 15 2005 |
| Media Releases >> |
The reform of Queensland's child protection system has reached a crucial milestone with the launch of a new Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) model that will deliver greater protection for the most vulnerable children and young people on the Gold Coast.
Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds and the Member for Southport Peter Lawlor said today the $22.1 million revamp of the SCAN system heralds a positive new phase for Queensland's child protection system.
"We are delivering one of the key recommendations stemming from the Crime and Misconduct Commission report into the abuse of children in foster care and that is a new SCAN system to ensure Queensland children at risk of abuse and neglect are safe," Mr Reynolds and Mr Lawlor said.
Mr Reynolds said the Beattie Government had allocated an additional $22.1 million to the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health, and the Department of Education and the Arts to improve the SCAN system.
"Because the new model involves strengthened partnerships with other government agencies and the community sector, Queensland's most vulnerable children will benefit from a more robust and more collaborative child protection intervention service," he said.
"This means that every child in contact with my department will have their case individually assessed and monitored by a group of experts including paediatricians, police officers, senior guidance officers and child safety officers."
Mr Lawlor said two SCAN Assessment and Management teams, led by the Department of Child Safety, would be established on the Gold Coast in March to focus on the protective needs of children and young people at all stages of child protection intervention.
"The SCAN Assessment and Management teams on the Gold Coast will be responsible for conducting initial assessments and formulating recommendations relevant to cases of suspected child abuse and neglect," he said.
Mr Lawlor said the new SCAN system would allow a cross-section of child protection experts in the community to meet on a regular basis to formally discuss the protection needs of children who have been harmed or who are at risk of harm.
"The team will be staffed by senior experienced practitioners and will be able to more effectively manage the protective needs of children in the Gold Coast community," he said.
"For the child protection system on the Gold Coast, this means increased services to children and young people and stronger partnerships with other government agencies and the community sector," Mr Lawlor said.
He said a significant feature of the new model is that the SCAN Assessment and Management teams will not operate in isolation.
"They will operate as the primary level of a reinvigorated two-tiered SCAN system and be supported by Community Implementation teams that will coordinate government and community services for individual children."
Mr Reynolds announced 20 inter-agency sites where the improved SCAN Assessment and Management teams would be rolled out across Queensland in two phases from March and May this year.
"Recent trials of the SCAN system in Townsville and Logan highlighted the importance of greater coordination between government and community agencies and better case planning.
"The number and location of the SCAN Assessment and Management teams was determined following careful consideration of issues including demographics, volume of notifications, number of children in care, availability and access to core agency resources and expertise."
In addition to the currently operational Townsville and Logan SCAN sites, 16 other new sites will be rolled out in Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Chermside, Browns Plains, Inala, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Cape Torres, Cairns, Mt Isa, Mackay, Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Redcliffe, Fortitude Valley and Stones Corner. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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