NSW Government Review Into Foster Care Needs To Include Measures To Stop Children Ending Up There In The First Place

The harrowing stories about foster care we read in today’s papers and watch on television’s broadcasts show the urgent need to fix the system, but also the need for more work to stop kids ending up in the system in the first place.

The peak body for NSW family and children’s services, FAMS states there has been no substantive increase in funding for early intervention services to keep vulnerable kids out of dangerous situations and ultimately foster care for more than 10 years.

FAMS CEO, Susan Watson met with Minister Kate Washington recently and urged her to consider the role of, and funding for, early intervention and prevention services in the newly-announced Review.

“When it comes to helping the most vulnerable kids in NSW - those at significant risk of, or who are already experiencing harm, there’s been a constant narrative from NSW Governments that the need to fix the pointy end first,” Ms Watson said.

“That’s just not the right approach.

“Our current NSW child protection system settings are akin to prioritising funding for emergency departments at the expense of primary care and prevention health measures that keep people healthy in the first place.

“There is no doubt that the foster care system is broken and needs fixing and funding - but what we need to do is also fund the services that will stop children from experiencing harm and ending up in bad situations including foster care in the first place.

“I absolutely congratulate the Advocate for Childcare and Young People (ACYP) on their report which shines a light on the tragedy that is the foster care system in NSW, and welcome the NSW Government’s commitment in response to an urgent review.

“What we need to do is make sure that the new review and the response to today’s reports tries to turn the tide on this situation, and help kids before things get to the crisis point.

“We need systemic change not just another crisis response.”

Less than 9 per cent of the spend on NSW child protection services is invested in early intervention and prevention services which are highly effective and are key to breaking the cycle of trauma and abuse.

Ms Watson said the peak body for family and children’s services was calling on the Government to increase funding by 25 per cent across early intervention and prevention programs.

“The front line workers in the not-for-profit system are highly professional and qualified,” she said.

“They are achieving some incredible outcomes despite a lack of resources.

“The families they see are much more complex now than 10 years ago and services are stretched to the limit.

“The NSW Government needs to give them the resources they need to keep more children safe and more families safe and together.

“What we need to stop is continuing to spend billions of dollars on crisis services while more and more vulnerable children fall through the cracks.”

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• Family