1673. Hon Alison Xamon to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection:
(1) How many child protection cases are currently under consideration by the Care Plan Review Panel?
(2) How many cases were under consideration by the Care Plan Review Panel at the same date 12 months ago?
(3) When did the Care Plan Review Panel last meet?
(4) How often did the Care Plan Review Panel meet during:
(a) January to March 2017;
(b) April to June 2017;
(c) July to September 2017;
(d) October to December 2017;
(e) January to March 2018;
(f) April to June 2018; and
(g) July to September 2018?
(5) Does the Minister intend to make any changes to the composition or function of the Care Plan Review Panel?
(6) If yes to (5):
(a) what changes will be made; and
(b) when?
Hon Sue Ellery replied:
(1) As at October 19, seven applications are currently under consideration by the Care Plan Review Panel.
(2) Three applications were under consideration.
(3) The Care Plan Review Panel last met on 6 March 2018.
(4) (a) January to March 2017: three times.
(b) April to June2017: three times.
(c) July to September 2017: once.
(d) October to November 2017: two times.
(e) January to March 2018: once.
(f) April to June 2018: none.
(g) July to September: none.
(5) Yes.
(6)
(a)–(b) The term of membership of the previous Care Plan Review Panel expired on 31 March 2018. No reappointments or new appointments were made prior to that date, due to administrative error.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Communities appointed a Care Plan Review Panel in September 2018 with a term ending 31 December 2018, pending a comprehensive recruitment process. A new Care Plan Review Panel will be appointed in January 2019 for a three year term. The Department of Communities is also currently reviewing the operational procedures and guidelines that support the Care Plan Review Panel.
As part of the recent Statutory Review of the Children and Community Services Act 2004, it was recommended that Aboriginal membership on the Care Plan Review Panel should be a legislative requirement. It also recommended that at least one Aboriginal member of the Care Plan Review Panel should be involved in considering every application to the Care Plan Review Panel in respect of an Aboriginal child in care. The current Care Plan Review Panel has two Aboriginal members.