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In 2022, DCJ worked with key stakeholders to progress recommendations requiring changes to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (the Care Act) and other Acts. The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment (Family is Culture) Act 2022 became law on 25 November 2022. Several changes commenced immediately, with the remaining needing to commence at a later time due to practice and systems-level change requirements.
On 12 October 2023, the Minister for Families and Communities approved for the remaining changes to commence on 15 November 2023. The changes include requirements for DCJ caseworkers and external providers with case management responsibility to make Active Efforts to reduce the risk of removal, to ensure children are able to live with family when they can’t live safely at home, and to support restoration.
Family preservation providers need to understand what Active Efforts is and how it is applied. Information can be found in this presentation (PDF, 195.0 KB). Further information on Family is Culture is on the DCJ webpage.
When a child is identified at risk of serious abuse or neglect, as defined in the Child Care Subsidy Minister’s Rules 2017 and where the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) eligibility requirements are met, the child’s family/carer can request ACCS (child wellbeing) for that child. The ACCS provides a higher rate of subsidy and more hours of subsidised childcare. The ACCS is a separate payment to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Information on the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) can be found on the Commonwealth Department of Education webpage.
The Commonwealth Department of Education has advised that Family Preservation (FP) service providers can produce ACCS letters and provide third-party supporting evidence for families. FP service providers no longer need to make a request to DCJ.
Please contact Familypreservation@dcj.nsw.gov.au for a FP service provider ACCS letter template, if needed.
FP service providers general enquiries in relation to the ACCS should be referred to: childwellbeing@education.gov.au
Agencies funded by DCJ must operate in accordance with their contractual requirements, legislation and DCJ policies and guidelines. DCJ contracts for the provision of Permanency Support Services for PSP Preservation include:
DCJ funded service providers - Find information on how we assist service providers with housing and homelessness, protecting children, family, domestic and sexual violence, community planning, disability inclusion, working with Aboriginal communities and legal help.
17 Apr 2024