04/09/2020

The Minister for Child Protection recently announced that we will not be pursuing a secure care facility for children and young people in care at this time.

This is a significant policy decision and follows consultation with key child protection stakeholders, including the Guardian for Children and Young People and the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

While secure care was a recommendation of the Nyland Royal Commission, research and consultation has found that it is unlikely to achieve improved outcomes for children and young people who have already experienced severe neglect and abuse.

We are instead focussing our efforts developing a more therapeutic system of care that is trauma-informed and meets the needs of individual children and young people.