Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Ministers statements: child protection

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:08): I am disappointed that the shadow minister who was in the gallery left before I could provide this important update to the house in relation to the Family Services Symposium. I rise to inform the house about the important work being done in the family services sector. I recently had the privilege of opening the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare’s second Family Services Symposium. The symposium brings together family services practitioners, leaders and partners across the community sector to share knowledge and ideas and celebrate the great work being done. One of the highlights of the day was the involvement of parents who are part of the centre’s lived experience design project. The project brings together parents with lived experience of child protection, with the understanding that by sharing their experiences service design and practice will be better informed. It does this by engaging in deep listening and collaborating and is based on co-design principles and frameworks. This work is so important because we know how powerful the contribution of those with lived experience is and that we can change the lives of vulnerable children and families because of projects like these.

I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the Aboriginal community controlled organisations in attendance at the symposium, including the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, who had one of their senior practitioners on a panel outlining what keeps them motivated in their vital work every day. When it comes those opposite, we know what motivates their work. They do not make an effort to engage with ACCOs or have genuine concern for children and young people. They only play politics. In fact as my colleague the Minister for Mental Health highlighted earlier this year, Ms Crozier’s preferred engagement with an ACCO is to film them from afar. Regarding this event, I would like to acknowledge Deb Tsorbaris and the centre for their ongoing commitment and dedication to the sector and for facilitating another great event. To all the family services practitioners and leaders, thank you for the role you play in making a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and families across our state. Maybe we will see those opposite attending next year.