Call for Submissions
A extension to the deadline for submissions has been granted and
submissions are now due on 23 March 2006.
The
NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) is undertaking a review of the
Children
and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
The review fulfils a statutory requirement under the Act in that Section 265
stipulates that:
• the Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy
objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain
appropriate for securing those objectives
• the review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after 5 December
2005
• the review is to consider, in particular, the effects of the provisions
in this Act for permanency planning on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children and young persons
• a report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of
Parliament by 5 December 2006.
The focus of the review is to assess the validity and appropriateness of
the Act and to identify what may be changed to improve the legislation. It is
intended that the review targets, in particular, the provisions that have been
most challenging in terms of interpretation, implementation, and workability.
The Ministerial Advisory Committee (formed to provide advice to the Minister on
community services issues) has agreed to act as a key vehicle for advice on the
review of the Act. The legislation can be found on the DoCS website www.community.nsw.gov.au.
A paper outlining the scope of the review and some of the issues that
have been identified is available on the DoCS website or can be emailed or
posted upon request.
Submissions can make comment on the issues identified in the scoping
paper or nominate other issues that you may wish to be considered. Submissions
should clearly outline issues and specify proposed legislative changes where
applicable.
Written
submissions should be made by 28
February 2006 either
by post or by email. Feedback will be provided on submissions following
consideration by the Department and the Ministerial Advisory
Committee.
Submissions and all enquiries should be directed
to:
The Secretariat
Review of the Act
NSW Department of Community Services
Locked Bag 28
Ashfield NSW 1800
Telephone: 1300 362 280
Email: actreview@community.nsw.gov.au
:: 
:: 
::
