Question Time

FOSTER CHILDREN

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:15): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Education and Child Development a question about foster families.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: A recent media report concerning the removal of foster children from their foster families (Seven News, 29 July 2013) highlighted concern about this important role in the community. More recently, many members would have received a letter from Foster Care Family Advocacy Incorporated which discusses the problems young people face when they abscond from care, are listed as missing persons and subsequently apprehended by the police.

There can be no doubt that children who abscond from foster care are at greater risk than other children because they have been placed in foster care due to childhood trauma of various kinds. Currently, there are no secure therapeutic centres where young people can be placed at times when they have absconded and been apprehended. My questions are as follows:

1. Does the minister agree that, due to their backgrounds, children who abscond from foster care placements are at increased risk in the community and that the risks they face include criminal activity, such as drug use and violence?

2. Is the minister aware of the practice of handcuffing children as young as 12 years old during processing at police stations and en route to Cavan youth training facility?

3. Is the minister aware of world's best practice regarding therapeutic residential care for young people who are facing difficulties, and will she undertake to conduct a feasibility plan into such a centre here in South Australia?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for her most important question on foster families. I undertake to take it to the Minister for Education and Child Development in another place and seek a response on her behalf.