2 July 2024
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) urges the Federal Government to rethink child protection and youth justice, as a recent report reveals radical reform is needed to improve systemic issues plaguing the systems.
The report released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has cited six major themes in need of reform, including improved information-sharing, collaboration and coordination; First Nations partnership and self-determination; better oversight, monitoring and transparency; workforce, investment and inclusion of the young people’s voices.
The findings of the report align with the recommendations from the RACP’s position statement on the health care of children in care and protection services, released last year. This statement highlighted 28 recommendations for health services, care and protection service providers, the Australian Government and the State/Territory Governments. These recommendations address the major themes noted by the AIFS report.
Professor Nitin Kapur, President of the RACP Paediatrics and Child Health Division, says “The RACP has long advocated for increased investment in multidisciplinary models of care, as well as prevention and early intervention programs. Without systemic reform, our children will continue to be let down.
“According to the report, existing evidence suggests that focusing on preventing children from interacting with the protection and youth justice system is the best way to improve outcomes, reaffirming the RACP position.
“Children who are involved in care and protection services are highly vulnerable and have poorer physical, mental and developmental outcomes that can have an impact for the rest of their lives.
“We need to invest in our most vulnerable children to ensure they have the support they need to help reduce these poor outcomes and break the cycle of health and social disadvantage.
“The AIFS report echoes the RACP recommendations to address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
“Despite being an identified target in Closing the Gap, First Nations children continue to be over-represented in care and protection services. The need for culturally safe, trauma informed care is fundamental to improving health outcomes for First Nations children.
“The current system continues to fail kids in child protection. We need a government commitment to listen to the experts calling for systemic reform and investment in prevention.
“The AIFS report is based on more than 3,000 recommendations from 61 Royal Commissions and inquiries over the course of 12 years – this is more than enough evidence to tell the story of the child protection system.”
The RACP position statement calls for commitments to improve health outcomes of our young generations by making sure fewer kids end up in the care and protection system.