Shake-up proposed for care model blamed for youth crime crisis

Proposed changes to the resi care system will empower carers to discipline youth in a shake-up of the “broken” system claimed to be funnelling kids into a life of crime. How it will work.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission in 2023 visited six homes and spoke with the care teams to hear their thoughts and insights on residential care. Picture: QFCC

Sweeping reform to empower Queensland residential carers to discipline misbehaving youth has been proposed under a strategy to address a broken system claimed to be funnelling children into a life of crime.

The Opposition unveiled a $383m overhaul of the residential care system that’s seen a staggering 85 per cent increase of children in care during the past five years in Cairns this week.

At the centre of the plan is an around-the-clock dual-carer supervision model, a 12-bed purpose-built secure care facility for high-need children and a $27m foster care pilot program that would pay professionals to look after youth with complex needs.

An independent body would also be set up to investigate complaints.

Anglicare NQ executive manager Andrew Brackman with Opposition child protection spokeswoman Amanda Camm and Cairns LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch at the announcement of the LNP Safer Children, Safer Communities policy. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Opposition child safety spokeswoman Amanda Camm, speaking from Cairns, said the proposed reform would create educational opportunities, discipline, structure for young people in care.

“This is a comprehensive policy four years in the making in consultation with the community all across the state, from foster carers (who) we’ve held spotlight meetings here (in Cairns) to residential care providers (and) non government organisations in the sector,” she said.

“We’re also going to increase the number of child safety officers, an increase of 20 per cent over the first term, if we are elected in October.”

Currently, 11,810 children are living away from home under the care of Child Safety with 1955 children in residential care, including 358 under 10 years of age.

Minors living at a Bentley Park residential care home in an allegedly stolen car. Picture: Supplied

A major criticism from workers within the sector has been the inability to direct children to attend school and make any attempts to intervene when kids in care become violent or are witnessed consuming illegal drugs.

Ms Camm said under the proposed LNP shake-up of the sector workers would be empowered to discipline children

“At the centre of our policy is ensuring (of) discipline structure support to ensure children are attending school, that children are participating in extra-curricular activities,” she said.

“And we’ll be able to do that with the rollout of the dual-carer model.

“Currently, when you have one staff member that’s in charge of three or four adolescents, it is very, very challenging.”

LNP child protection spokeswoman Amanda Camm and Cairns LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch at the announcement of the LNP Safer Children, Safer Communities policy. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Two workers, 24-hours a day would staff all residential care houses throughout the state by 2030 in a boost worth $171.59m.

Anglicare NQ is funded to provide residential care services within the Cairns, Tablelands and Townsville areas.

The organisation’s executive manager Andrew Brackman described the plan as a “historic proposal”.

“The dual-care model is something that we have been advocating for,” he said.

“When you’re using a single care, a single carer model is complicated.

“It can be dangerous, and for us, that creates a range of different challenges in terms of attracting and retaining a qualified workforce.”

A new $50m “secure care” facility for young people at risk of suicide of self-harm will offer an intensive one month stay for 12 children at a time and be built by 2028, while a $27m professional foster care pilot will be trialled for children whose complex needs can’t be met in residential care.

A 20 per cent boost to child safety officer numbers is also planned under the scheme.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli said for too long out-of-home care had failed to provide vulnerable Queensland children with the parental care and support they needed, which was driving up youth crime.

“The LNP’s Safer Children, Safer Communities plan will protect our state’s most vulnerable children and repair the broken system that’s putting communities at risk,” Mr Crisafulli said.

The $383m spend will be added to a state government out-of-care home bill that totalled about $1bn in 2023.

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Originally published as Shake-up proposed for care model blamed for youth crime crisis