1474. Hon Alison Xamon to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services:
I refer to the June 2016 report of the Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Everybody’s Business – An examination into how the Commissioner for Children and Young People can enhance WA’s response to child abuse, and specifically to Recommendation 1, ‘that the Government takes immediate action to investigate capacity limitations and unmet demand within support services for child abuse victims and the provision of appropriate service models and funding’, and I ask:
(a) has any work been undertaken to address this recommendation;
(b) if yes to (a), please provide information about any work undertaken, including any relevant timeframes; and
(c) if no to (a), why not?
Hon Sue Ellery replied:
(a) Yes.
(b) The Department of Communities currently contracts 13 community service organisations to provide Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Services (CSATS). These services provide healing, support, counselling and therapeutic responses to children, young people and their families affected by child sexual abuse, people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and children and/or young people who are responsible for, or at risk of, sexually abusing other children.
In 2018–19, the Department of Communities provides annual funding of $3,857,178 (excluding GST) to the CSATS providers.
The current service agreements for the provision of CSATS is to 30 September 2019. The consultation and procurement process for the establishment of new service agreements will incorporate the recommendations from the Joint Standing Committee Report and the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Department of Communities is cognisant of the urgency in implementing the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee and the Final Report of the Royal Commission and is progressing with the implementation accordingly.
The Department of Communities is working with the Department of Health to progress recommendations in relation to advocacy, support and therapeutic treatment services.
(c) N/A