Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (14:05): I rise to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is recognising the important work that Victorians do every day to protect children. Nominations are now open for the longstanding Victorian Protecting Children Awards. The annual Victorian Protecting Children Awards recognise individuals, teams and groups who demonstrate excellence in working with children, young people and their families. This year marks a significant milestone: 20 years of highlighting the pivotal work and passion across the Victorian child and family services sector and community.

The Victorian Protecting Children Awards have 11 categories open for nomination to those working across the child and family services sector, child protection, government and academic organisations and foster kinship and permanent carers, volunteers and community members. Anyone can submit a nomination to recognise people and teams for their exceptional efforts to keep children and young people safe and families strong. It is a great way to show how much you value their effort and acknowledge their dedication to making a positive difference for children, young people and families across the Victorian community.

It is important that we call out the effort and achievements of those who work tirelessly every day to keep our children safe, and those people know that on this side of the house not only do we acknowledge their achievements but we support them with real action. We have invested $2.8 billion in child and family services over the last three budgets, including $271.6 million in the 2022–23 budget as part of the Roadmap for Reform, and since 2014 we have funded an additional 1180 child protection practitioners, in contrast to those opposite, who cut 500 staff from the Department of Human Services. In last year’s budget we invested $5.8 million for the establishment of the care support help desk. The help desk undertakes a range of activities for children in care and their carers, including supporting access to services, obtaining key documents such as birth certificates and Medicare cards and providing a contact point for carers. This government has invested $160 million since 2018 to implement Wungurilwil Gapgapduir and its nation-leading initiatives to address the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the system.

Nominations for this year’s Victorian Protecting Children Awards close on Friday 19 May, and the winners will be recognised at a special awards ceremony during Child Protection Week in September. To find out more and to submit a nomination you can visit the website.