A wide-ranging Expert Advisory Group providing specialist advice in the development of the Andrews Labor Government’s Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children will meet for the first time today.
The Roadmap for Reform will review Victoria’s entire child protection and family services system, strengthen and improve it - including the out-of-home care system.
The Expert Advisory Group will advise on key trends, issues and new initiatives in services for children and families to ensure the development of the Roadmap is consistent with contemporary evidence and reform directions.
The Group comprises experienced specialists with backgrounds in: economics; children, families and early childhood services; clinical practice; academia, and; commercial advisory.
It includes Deutsche Bank Vice Chairman (Aust & New Zealand) Steven Skala, Group Executive Governance & Reputation at NAB Michaela Healey, and international experts Vice President of New York Foundling Dr Sylvia Rowlands and Science Director of the Oregon Social Service Learning Centre Dr Patricia Chamberlain.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos will open and chair the meeting, which forms an important step in the development of the the Roadmap.
The Roadmap will set the direction and establish practical steps for long term reform of services to better support families and children, prevent neglect and abuse by intervening early, keep more families together through crises, and secure better futures for children who can’t live at home.
It will also consider how to achieve reunification of children with their parents where it is safe to do so.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Bringing together a wide range of experts and advice will ensure the Roadmap for Reform delivers practical steps for robust long-term reform that improves and strengthens the child protection and family services system.”
“This is an important step to improving and strengthening the child protection and family services system for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable children and young people.”
“The Roadmap for Reform aims to prevent neglect and abuse by intervening early with the right support to keep families together through crises, prevent children entering the system, and secure better futures for children who can’t live at home.”
Reviewed 10 February 2021