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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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CHILD PROTECTION

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (10 November 2010).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling):

1. As part of its response to the recommendations of the Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry (the Mullighan Inquiry), the South Australian Government is undertaking initiatives to promote increased awareness of issues relating to preventing child sexual abuse, including where the child or young person has a disability.

Under recent changes to the Children's Protection Act 1993, many Government, non-government and local government organisations, including those providing services to children with disabilities, will be required to take additional steps to protect children from harm or abuse and to promote child safety and well-being within their organisation.

The College for Learning and Development within DFC, is responsible for the development and training of the 'Child Safe Environments—reporting Child Abuse and Neglect' program, formerly Mandated Notification training. This one-day training aims to increase participants' knowledge as to what constitutes child abuse, including sexual abuse and the reporting mechanisms available to those mandated to report. Whilst addressing the abuse of any child or young person, this program makes specific reference to vulnerable populations, including children who have a disability.

In addition to attending the Child Safe Environments program, all new Disability Services Support Workers attend the Disability Dynamics program, which includes the requirement for workers to respond to situations of risk or potential risk to people with disabilities, including the identification of possible sexual abuse. 169 participants attended training from 1 April 2010 to 1 April 2011. The College for Learning and Development also delivers aspects of the Disability Dynamics program to a wide range of employees across the Department.

SHine SA is the leading sexual health agency in South Australia. It works in partnership with government, health, education and community agencies and communities to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of South Australians. SHine SA is funded by the South Australian Government through SA Health and by the Commonwealth Government through the Public Health Outcomes Funding Agreement.

SHine SA provides prevention, promotion and education programs that build the capacity of communities in greatest need. SHine SA has focused on up-skilling workers in the disability sector. Over the past 18 months, SHine SA has also worked with a number of schools for children and young people with a disability. The program taught to school students covers areas such as safe sex practices and prevention of sexual abuse. Across SA, a number of children and adults with disabilities have also accessed one-to-one education from SHine SA addressing appropriate and inappropriate behaviours and protective behaviours.

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) access SHine SA services when they want sexual health issues to be discussed with people who are being trained as direct care workers in disability services. This includes the prevention of sexual abuse of people with disabilities.

In 2010, SHine SA restructured its nationally recognised training course for workers in the community services and health sector, in order to extend its scope of training. The Freedom to Explore Sexual Health (FRESH) course aims to provide workers with an increased level of confidence when working with clients in the area of sexual and reproductive health and relationships.

SHine SA has also negotiated a partnership arrangement with Flinders University School of Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, whereby all first year students receive an introductory lecture on sexual and gender diversity, followed by a series of three short workshops in their second year focused on sexuality and disability issues.

The DECS Keeping Safe—Child Protection curriculum has been developed for students attending school between Reception to Year 12. This curriculum includes strategies to prevent sexual abuse of children, including those with disabilities. During the developmental stages, the program was trialled across several sites including some special education facilities.

2. The Government is committed to high standards of protecting children with disabilities. In 2005, the Office for Disability and Client Services (then known as the Client Services Office) led the creation of 'Protecting Children and Young People with Disabilities: a booklet for parents and carers' in collaboration and partnership with Families SA and Ms Jayne Lehmann and Ms Fim Jucha, parents of children with disabilities.

DFC has progressed updating this booklet and a second edition will be published. Families SA is leading this work in collaboration with Disability Services and advice from the Chair of the Minister's Disability Advisory Council. The second edition of the booklet will be amended to take into consideration a number of changes in child protection since its production in 2005, including changes made to the Children's Protection Act 1993 via the Children's Protection (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2005, findings from the Mullighan Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry (2008) and revision of Child Safe Environment training practices.

Once the booklet information has been revised, the Minister's Disability Advisory Council will also be asked for comment. Giving appropriate time for all parties to provide considered feedback, it is expected that a revised second edition will be available later this year.

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