Child Welfare Practices and Legislation Review Committee

Full description

Establishment and Terms of Reference

In November 1982 the then Minister for Community Welfare Services, the Hon. Mrs Pauline Toner M.P., and the then Attorney General, the Hon. John Cain M.P. appointed an independent committee to review child welfare practice and legislation in Victoria. The Committee commenced formal operations in January 1983.

Formal terms of reference of the Committee were:

1. To carry out a review of child welfare legislation and practice in that part of the Victorian welfare/justice system affecting children, young people and their families.

2. To develop a framework of principles that should guide and govern child welfare legislation and practice in Victoria in the foreseeable future.

3. To provide detailed instructions on provisions to guide the drafting of new child welfare legislation consistent with the principles identified.

4. To make recommendations on any changes in practices or services that are desirable within the foreseeable future, and to indicate practical ways of achieving these, where possible, by rationalization of existing resources.

5. To suggest a time-scale for the implementation of changes in practices and/or services according to priorities developed through the review process.

The committee was also charged with the task of preparing draft legislation to accompany the Final Report to Parliament in Spring 1984.

Membership

The members of the Committee were:

Dr. Terry Carney, Ph.D., LL.B., Dip.Crim.,
Senior Lecturer in Law (Chair)
Ms. Tricia Harper, B.A., Dip.Ed.,
Institute of Family Studies (Deputy Chair)
Mr. Tony Lawson, B.Ec., LL.B., Policy Analyst, Community Lawyer
Cr. Ken Readwin, B.Sc., Dip.Ed., Teacher/Administrator.

Outputs and Cessation of the Committee

In consultation with the community, the Committee prepared guiding principles for child welfare in Victoria; drafted new child welfare legislation governing the practice of the Children's Court and the Department of Community Welfare Services and made recommendations about future strategies and services in the child welfare area. The Committee ceased operation on submission of its final report in 1984.

See also VRG 60 Community Welfare Services.

Location of Records

Correspondence Submissions and Draft Reports relating to the work of the Committee are held by the P.R.O.