Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch said the government was committed to a comprehensive redesign of the system through their Strong Families, Safe Kids policy. 

His comments come after the release of Anglicare Tasmania’s Breaking The Cycle report this week.

“There is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of our kids,” he said.

“This includes more investment towards employing up to 25 more child safety officers and other frontline staff, and assisting vulnerable children with very complex needs in out-of-home care.”

Mr Jaensch also highlighted preventative methods for early intervention included in the policy.

“A key component of the redesign focuses on better support to families before they get into crisis.

“By giving earlier support children are less likely to be removed from their families and family breakdowns can be prevented.”

This early intervention is important said Teresa Hinton, the report’s author, but she added there would still be families that face removals.

“We need to input intensive support at that point,” she said.

“The current systems focuses on the safety of the child.

“At the same time you have to look at the welfare of the parent.”

This kind of support would help address collateral consequences stemming from the removal of a child that impact the chance of a family being reunified, Ms Hinton said.

Recommendations of the report included the Department of Communities ensure skilled post-removal support was available to parents experiencing child removal, along with assistance to maintain relationships and improve their parenting capacity.

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