Policies and recommendations
The Commissioner and other oversight organisations have made a range of recommendations to government to strengthen services, policies and support for children and young people.
The following key recommendations are highlighted due to their significance across all the Indicators of Wellbeing domains and do not represent all recommendations made to government on children’s wellbeing.
Recommendation: 6.4 – Institutions should implement the Child Safe Standards identified by the Royal Commission.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle in 2018.
Status: In progress. WA has demonstrated progress towards implementing this recommendation.
Recommendation: 6.8 – State and Territory governments should require all institutions in their jurisdiction that engage in child-related work to meet the Child Safe Standards identified by the Royal Commission.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle in 2018.
Status: Not yet implemented. WA has not clearly demonstrated progress towards implementing this recommendation.
Recommendation: 6.9 – Legislative requirements to comply with the Child Safe Standards should cover a range of institutions.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle in 2018.
Status: Not yet implemented. WA has not clearly demonstrated progress towards implementing this recommendation.
Recommendation: 6.10 – State and Territory governments should ensure that an independent oversight body is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the Child Safe Standards.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle in 2018.
Status: In progress. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is working in conjunction with the interagency Independent Oversight Working Group to develop advice for the State Government on options for an independent oversight system. Consultation was expected to be undertaken between November 2020 and early 2021.
Source for status
WA Government Progress Reports 2018, 2019, 2020
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse - 2018 Progress Report
Healing Past Hurts, Protecting Children Now, Preventing Further Harm - 2019 Progress Report
2020 Progress Report - Safer WA for Children and Young People
Commonwealth Government Progress Reports 2018, 2019, 2020
Recommendation: Establish a whole-of-government Child Wellbeing Strategy for WA.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2019.
Status: Not yet implemented.
Recommendation: Develop and implement a Child Impact Assessment Tool to assess the impact of any proposed legislation, policy or strategy on the rights, interests and wellbeing of children and young people.
WA Government response: Alternative process proposed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2019.
Status: Implemented by Commissioner.
Source for status: Commissioner for Children and Young People has developed and published a Child Impact Assessment Tool.
Recommendation: Develop, implement and resource a comprehensive and rigorous model of independent oversight of services that provide support to children and young people in WA.
WA Government response: Accepted in principle by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2019.
Status: Some progress evident.
Source for status: The Department of Premier and Cabinet invited public comment on the design of an oversight system between November 2020 and February 2021. The Department of Premier and Cabinet has stated that a consultation summary report will be released.
The Commissioner published the Oversight of child safe standards and out-of-home care paper in October 2020 to inform the discussion.
Recommendation: Initiatives in the Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025 aimed at improving services and supports for children and young people with severe mental illness and meeting the needs of vulnerable groups of children and young people be fully resourced and implemented.
WA Government response: No response provided.
Status: Limited progress evident.
Source of status: The Mental Health Commission provided an update on progress towards this recommendation in the Commissioner’s Progress update to agencies on the recommendations from the 2015 Our Children Can’t Wait Report in late 2020.
Recommendation: A detailed assessment be undertaken by government of the availability and effectiveness of existing parenting programs and services in WA and a model of service delivery be developed to support more equitable access to quality parenting advice and support, especially for parents at risk, tailored to children and young people’s key life stages and transition points. This needs to include both universal and targeted support, be culturally appropriate, and across all ages.
WA Government response: No response provided.
Status: Some progress evident.
Source of status: The Department of Communities provided an update on progress towards this recommendation in the Commissioner’s Progress update to agencies on the recommendations from the 2015 Our Children Can’t Wait Report in late 2020.
Recommendation: The development of a specialised children in care program and dedicated youth forensic mental health service, as outlined under the Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025, be undertaken as a high priority.
WA Government response: No response provided.
Status: Limited progress evident.
Source of status: The Mental Health Commission, Department of Communities and Department of Justice provided updates on progress towards this recommendation in the Commissioner’s Progress update to agencies on the recommendations from the 2015 Our Children Can’t Wait Report in late 2020.
Recommendation: More innovative and flexible models of service delivery and support be adopted in regional areas, including wider and better use of technology, local workforce development and funding that takes into account the costs of regional service delivery.
WA Government response: No response provided.
Status: Some progress evident.
Source of status: The Mental Health Commission (on behalf of Health Service Providers) and the WA Primary Health Alliance provided updates on progress towards this recommendation in the Commissioner’s Progress update to agencies on the recommendations from the 2015 Our Children Can’t Wait Report in late 2020.
Recommendation: More culturally appropriate mental health programs and services be provided for Aboriginal children and young people and their families, to be achieved by initiatives such as employing more Aboriginal staff, cultural competency training and the development and implementation of tailored programs and services. This must include the full continuum of services, from programs supporting wellbeing, addressing trauma and loss and building resilience, through to early intervention and treatment services, tailored to recognise the importance of culture and healing and to address the impact of intergenerational trauma, particularly for younger ages.
WA Government response: No response provided.
Status: Some progress evident.
Source of status: The Mental Health Commission, Aboriginal Health Council of WA, WA Primary Health Alliance, WA Department of Health, Australian Department of Health and WA Country Health Service provided updates on progress towards this recommendation in the Commissioner’s Progress update to agencies on the recommendations from the 2015 Our Children Can’t Wait Report in late 2020.
Progress status is current as at August 2021. Updates will be made when evidence of progress changes.