As South Australia's parliament considers new child protection laws, advocates are questioning whether the state has become 'over-zealous' in protecting children from harm.
Children 'excluded' from school photos and play dates, as advocates say SA's child protection laws are 'over-zealous'Children 'excluded' from school photos and play dates, as advocates say SA's child protection laws are 'over-zealous'Children in SA's out-of-home care system are missing out on school photos and play dates, a parliamentary committee has heard.
"They know that you are that kid in care. They know that stuff has happened to you. Also, you are looking back at them."Ms Reid, a state government-funded advocate for children and young people in out-of-home care, said some children in care also miss out on play dates and school camps. "If children are advocating that to the guardian, I would like to know those specific incidences because there is not a procedure for that to occur," she told a parliamentary committee set up to examine the new legislation.
Those in support include the Legal Services Commission, the Youth Court, the Leadership Coalition for Child Protection, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movements and Child and Family Focus SA. A parliamentary committee examining the government's new child protection laws has heard evidence children in care are missing out on play dates.But the department argues the government's legislation "supports the continued unequivocal focus on safety" for child protection workers and the courts.
But a host of child protection advocates, statutory bodies and peak organisations now argue that SA has, in essence, overcorrected, creating a "risk averse" child protection system that is driving more children into out-of-home care. In 2014/15, just before the safety principle was legislated, 7.8 children out of 1,000 were in out-of-home care in SA, according to Report on Government Services data.
Department For Child Protection Katrine Hildyard Jackie Bray Shona Reid Child Safety Child Protection Laws Children In Care Out Of Home Care
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