11 October 2012

Media Statement

Every Child Counts

1000 days to get it right for every child

Careful implementation of government’s White Paper critical

Aspects of the White Paper for Vulnerable Children released today have potential to improve the government and community response to children who are abused or vulnerable but careful implementation is critical to success, says Every Child Counts*.

“The White Paper focuses on the most vulnerable children and seeks to improve systems and practice that respond to vulnerability, but how this is work is done and how well it is resourced are critical to success,” says Deborah Morris-Travers, Manager of Every Child Counts.

“We are pleased that the government will consult on the implementation of the White Paper because care needs to be taken to ensure that universal services such as antenatal care and well child health are not eroded, and the agencies involved in the delivery of the Children’s Action Plan have both the skills and resources needed. There would also be benefit in creating cross-party agreement about the priorities for action so that this work is sustained.

“We strongly support the early identification and tracking of vulnerable children. Evidence shows that universal services have a vital role in helping identify these children and ensuring they are connected with more specialised support.

“We are disappointed that the White Paper does little to prevent children from becoming vulnerable in the first place. Preventing vulnerability requires government and community leadership that ensures parents are able to meet their children’s needs and their children do not have barriers to accessing their entitlements, such as healthcare and education.

“Submissions to the Green Paper called for the government to address wider social and economic causes of vulnerability; identified the role of government in ensuring agencies and organisations are connected; and highlighted the importance of government and community working together to improve outcomes for children.

“As such, we urge the government to ensure that steps taken to implement the White Paper are always based on children’s best interests and are connected to efforts to reduce poverty, increase participation in early childhood education and other relevant work within government and community.

“We welcome the requirement that state sector chief executives work together and share responsibility for vulnerable children, and the fact that this will be legislated for.”

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