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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-01 Daily Xml
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FAMILIES SA

In reply to the Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (18 October 2011) (First Session).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women): The Minister for Education and Child Development has advised:

1. Information regarding reunification of a child or young person on a Care and Protection Order is recorded in the child's/young person's case file. Work is currently being undertaken to enable the administrative system for data recording to report the numbers of children who have been reunified with their families, after being placed under Care and Protection Orders for either 12 months or until the age of 18 years.

2. Where a child or young person on a 12 month order is to be reunified with parents, Families SA workers ensure that an appropriate reunification plan is developed which guides work with the child, family, caregivers and other agencies.

Where a child or young person under a longer term order is reunified critical considerations include the views of the child/young person; their age, developmental needs and emotional attachments; and the importance of settled and safe living arrangements. These considerations are outlined in the Children's Protection Act 1993 (see 5 below).

3. Yes. It is important that the intended caregiver supports reunification and therefore also understands and has available to them the reunification plan.

4. No. Service provision is tailored to the needs of parents and families to best assist the reunification process.

5. The Children's Protection Act 1993 establishes the criteria that the Youth Court applies in making decisions regarding whether to rescind an order until the age of 18 to enable a child to be reunified with their parents. These criteria include:

whether the order is the best available solution having regard to the child's need for care and protection (including emotional security), the child's age, developmental needs and emotional attachments;

the importance of settled and stable living arrangements for the child;

the child's sense of connection with their neighbourhood or environment;

continuity of the child's education or employment;

the child's views to the extent that the child is able to form and express them; and

the likelihood that the child would suffer significant psychological injury if their care arrangements were to be disturbed.

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