Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Child protection

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:02): My question is to the Minister for Workplace Safety and Minister for Early Childhood for the Minister for Child Protection in the other place. Minister, child protection services stopped face-to-face visits with children who were at risk of neglect and abuse during the pandemic. This included contact for two children who later died. The commission was notified of 45 children who died after having contact with child protection. The commission noted that reduced face-to-face contact meant child protection could not adequately assess risks facing children who are significantly vulnerable and that direct support ceased at a critical time. Decisions to cease contact were made individually without consultation with other agencies. Minister, can you confirm that all face-to-face visits have now resumed in full to ensure comprehensive risk assessments can be undertaken and supports put in place to help protect these vulnerable children?

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:03): I thank Ms Maxwell for her question for the Minister for Child Protection, and I will certainly refer the question to the minister for a written response in accordance with the standing orders.

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:03): Thank you, Minister. A section 38 consultation can be initiated where community services and child protection flag a case where there is poor engagement. Can the minister advise whether, given the lack of face-to-face visits during the pandemic, any audit has been undertaken of all cases and how many section 38 consultations are in effect to ensure timely assessments are resumed for those at-risk children?

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:03): I thank Ms Maxwell for her supplementary question, and I will seek a written response from the minister.