Foster and Kinship Carer Assessments

887 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (2 July 2019). What actions to date have been taken by the Department for Child Protection, to ensure foster care agencies and non-government organisations work with the Department comply with the new working with children checks that are due to come into force on 1 July 2019?

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection): I have been advised:

In the 2018-19 budget, $250,000 was allocated by the Department of Human Services towards an advertising campaign comprising print, radio, digital and social media.

As part of that DHS campaign, a wideranging communication strategy is underway to ensure the community is aware of the changes that have occurred and transitional arrangements.

Valid child-related screening checks issued prior to 1 July 2019 remain valid until they expire, even if this expiry date is after 1 July 2019.

Information on the changes has been regularly communicated to foster care agencies and is on the DCP website. This information includes specific sections for foster care agencies, as well as a fact sheet.

Transition arrangements are in place for foster carers, kinship carers and specific child only carers during the implementation of the new legislation and arrangements in regard to working with children checks.

NGO foster agencies have been advised of the changes and have been working with the department to ensure foster and specific child only carers comply with the working with children checks that commenced 1 July 2019.