Child Protection

230 The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON ().9 February 2023). Can the minister advise—what is the strategy employed by the Department for Child Protection in reducing traumatic access experiences?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Child Protection has advised:

Family contact can be unsettling for children and young people in care.

DCP caseworkers conduct holistic assessments of children's and young people's needs to inform decision-making regarding contact arrangements. Such assessments are child centred and consider information gathered from a number of sources.

The safety of children and young people is paramount in all decision-making. Decisions also take into account the wellbeing and developmental needs of the children and young people involved. When a child or young person is experiencing difficulties related to contact, caseworkers will consider various strategies to help children and young people experience visits positively, such as changing who can attend visits, working with family attending visits to refrain from any behaviours that are causing the child distress, changing the place, time, duration or frequency of visits, increasing supervision or ceasing visits where necessary.