As Tasmania marks two years since the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse handed down its final report, TasCOSS are urging the Tasmanian Government to stay the course and deliver on key reforms.
TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said Tasmania has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in implementing innovative, evidence-based community programs that prevent harm and support positive outcomes for children.
“It is vital we harness the momentum for change and ensure the Government delivers on the Youth Justice Blueprint and maintains focus on implementing the Commission’s recommendations, as intended, to prevent child sexual abuse from occurring and ensure the safety and rights of children and young people are upheld,” Ms Picone said.
“While progress has been made against a number of the Commission’s recommendations over the past two years, including this week’s tabled legislation to progress the establishment of a Commission for Children and Young People, serious concerns remain unaddressed.
“The recent report from the Office of the Custodial Inspector revealed alarming safety risks for children held in adult watch-houses, including threats of abuse and inappropriate searches.
“The evidence is clear: punitive responses do not prevent harm and these practices must end.
“What does work, according to both international evidence and local practice wisdom, are evidence-based, trauma-informed initiatives that strengthen protective factors, reduce risk, and empower children and families.
“This includes access to affordable housing, health and wellbeing services, and coordinated community supports that can intervene early when warning signs appear.
“In Tasmania, we are lucky to have many examples of this approach — programs like the Glenorchy City Council’s HAPPY program, which provides mentoring support for students at risk of disengaging from education, and the Tasmanian Bike Collective, a grassroots initiative that uses bicycle restoration and riding to engage, mentor and empower at-risk young people, are achieving strong outcomes for at-risk young people.
“Two years on, now is the time for bold action to ensure every child is safe, every story is heard, and every institution is held to account.”