The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse today released its fourth issues paper and is inviting members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise on the best ways to prevent the sexual abuse of children living in out-of-home care (OOHC).
Royal Commission CEO Janette Dines says out-of-home care includes arrangements by an agency for foster care, relative or kinship care, family group homes, residential care and independent living arrangements.
“The Royal Commission believes it is important to determine whether current practices and regulation adequately protects children from sexual abuse in out-of-home care,” said Ms Dines.
“The Royal Commission is interested in strategies that will keep children in care safe from sexual abuse and in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of current models of oversight of out-of-home care practices.
“We invite interested individuals, government and non-government organisations to tell us what they believe makes out-of-home care safe and what are appropriate responses where a child has been sexually abused.” Ms Dines said.
Organisations and individuals wishing to respond have until 8 November 2013 to lodge a submission.
The Royal Commission intends to hold a public forum into the matters raised in the issues paper in the first quarter of 2014. The submissions received will help to determine the agenda.
