Guardian for Children and Young People

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. How is the government supporting the role of the Guardian for Children and Young People?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:57): I wholeheartedly thank the member for her question, and also for her enduring interest in ensuring that the children and young people with direct experience of the child protection and family support system are supported, heard, and have their interests advocated for.

I am really proud to inform the house today of our government's investment into the functions and role of the Guardian for Children and Young People, including her roles as Child and Young Person's Visitor and Training Centre Visitor. The role the guardian plays in the child protection and family support system is incredibly important, and I thank Shona Reid for her outstanding work and steadfast commitment to advocating for and empowering the children and young people whose voices most need to be amplified.

When we came to government, we funded the Child and Young Person's Visitor function of the guardian with the provision of $1.87 million over four years. Sadly, and shamefully, this vital function, which enables children and young people living in out-of-home care to share their stories and raise their matters of concern, had no funding whatsoever committed to it by the former government after its trial concluded in September 2019—nothing.

In contrast, our government is deeply committed to doing all that we possibly can to help support and listen to children and young people in ways that help ensure their safety, wellbeing and the best opportunities to thrive into adulthood. Unlike those opposite when they were in government, our government wants to help ensure the voices of children in care are heard, listened to and acted upon, which is why in this 2024-25 state budget our government has committed a further $4.6 million over four years to the Guardian for Children and Young People, Training Centre Visitor, and Child and Young Person's Visitor.

The funding will allow additional support for the functions of Training Centre Visitor for young people in custody and the Child and Young Person's Visitor, which support those in contact with the child protection and family support system. The guardian has significant powers of oversight, review and advocacy. To meet the growing demand of these functions and the increased complexity of needs experienced by children and young people and the need for effective advocacy for them, our government's recent investment will enable a further five ongoing roles to support the guardian.

The Guardian for Children and Young People and I meet regularly to discuss ongoing reform to the child protection and family support system. Central to our process of reform—and, indeed, to all that we do—must be considering how we can best ensure that children and young people in care are at the centre of decision-making and play a key role in decision-making about their care and all aspects of their lives.

I wholeheartedly thank the guardian for her ongoing contribution to positive change that makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people engaged with the child protection and family support system. I thank her for her understanding of the need for whole-of-community, whole-of-government and whole-of-sector effort to drive change that makes that difference, and I thank the guardian for the commitment to fairness and inclusion and the right for all children to be heard and respected with which she approaches her crucial role.