Sector reform for vulnerable children and their families

Changes in the delivery of services and programs for vulnerable children and young people and their families will result in more efficient and effective operation of the service system in the ACT, Minister for Community Services Joy Burch announced today.

A new service delivery framework developed by the Community Services Directorate in consultation with the youth services and family support sectors will be gradually introduced, with full implementation by 1 March2012.

Ms Burch said that the reforms covered the youth and family support programs and were a response to recommendations from Youth and Family Support Reviews in 2002, 2004 and 2009.

"The changes are aimed at strengthening referral pathways and developing more flexible and responsive services, Ms Burch said.

"Importantly, services will be evidence based. We will see a lot more collaborative and integrated practice across the range of services accessed by children, young people and their families.

Ms Burch said people who were vulnerable or in need generally needed more than one kind of support, and the service delivery reforms reflected this.

"This is especially the case at key transition points such as when young people leave out of home care, or come into the youth justice system. Their situations are complex and services including those for homelessness and mental health, need to be able to work together.

"This new way of working is about looking at the person's situation right across the spectrum. It's about ensuring that all available resources can be used to get the very best results - and that this support is sustainable."

Ms Burch said that the Community Services Directorate is working closely with the child, youth and family support sectors to manage transitional arrangements prior to 1 March 2012. She said that young people would still be able to access support during the transitional phase.