The State Government’s far reaching reforms to support families are already making a big difference to people’s lives.
The Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp, said the new Gateways and Integrated Family Support Services focussed on linking services and providing support for children, including unborn children, and families.
“In just the first month of operation, Gateway Services across the State received referrals for 186 families and 463 children.
“It is important to understand that these reforms are not piecemeal changes – this is system wide reform to ensure we have high quality services for families and children from before birth to 18 years of age.
“The new model provides a visible entry and referral point in the community for vulnerable families and other professionals to access family support services.
“These vulnerable families are now getting improved access to services through the Gateway which allows them to ask for information and support.
“Professionals can also refer them for help without being referred to the child protection system.
“The Government has committed Statewide funding of $8.7 million to the Integrated Family Support Services and the Gateways.
“This means that across Tasmania, some 3,400 families a year will be supported under the new system.”
Ms Thorp said the new integrated family support services are fully operational, and the feedback is that
· the way they are working is making a real difference
· there are reports of families who previously shunned support now being open to working with the services,
· evidence that services are much better at working together to agree on the best way to support children and families.
“One of the services that will be receiving referrals from the Gateways, are the new early years parenting support services.
“The new specialist parenting services will provide long-term intensive support to around 80 families a year with children from 0 to 5 years of age, including unborn children.
“I recently visited NewPIN in northern Tasmania and had the opportunity to meet and talk to members of the program.
“It was intensely moving and encouraging to see how, through this program, they have taken control of their lives, developed their relationship with their children and learned positive parenting skills.
“These new programs in the family support sector are certainly developing the strength base that vulnerable Tasmanian families need.”
Ms Thorp said the Government was also establishing a Targeted Youth Support program for 10 to 17 year-old young people to address the service gap for young people who have already demonstrated multiple risk factors and for whom, without intensive coordinated intervention, there is a high risk of the development of chronic issues.
“This Targeted Youth Support program will provide intensive therapeutic support to young people who have demonstrated significant needs and risk issues for whom, without intensive support, notification to child protection or entry/and escalation within the youth justice system is likely.
“In the Out of Home Cares sector, we are also seeking applications for funding from community sector organisations to deliver therapeutic residential care to young people under Care and Protection orders. This will be for young people who have been too often profoundly affected by cumulative harm – as repeated traumatic treatment over a period of time results in significant psychological damage.”
