Tasmanian Consolidated Acts

CHILDREN, YOUNG PERSONS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACT 1997 - SECT 7

      (1) The object of this Act is to provide for the care and protection of children in a manner that maximises a child's opportunity to grow up in a safe and stable environment and to reach his or her full potential.

      (2) The Minister must seek to further the object of this Act and, to that end, should endeavour –

(a) to promote, and assist in the development of, a partnership approach between the Government, local government, non-Government agencies and families in taking responsibility for and dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect; and

(b) to promote and assist in the development of coordinated strategies for dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect; and

(c) to provide, or assist in the provision of, services for dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect and for the care and protection of children; and

(d) to provide, or assist in the provision of, preventative and support services directed towards strengthening and supporting families and reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect; and

(e) to assist recognised Aboriginal organisations to establish and provide preventative and support services directed towards strengthening and supporting families and reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect within the Aboriginal community; and

(f) to provide, or assist in the provision of, information or education services for guardians, prospective guardians and other members of the community in relation to the developmental, social and safety requirements of children; and

(g) to provide, or assist in the provision of, education to persons who are required to notify the Secretary if they know or reasonably believe or suspect that a child is being, or is likely to be, abused or neglected; and

(h) to provide, or assist in the provision of, services to help persons who have been under the guardianship or in the custody of the Secretary during childhood to make a successful transition to adulthood; and

(i) to collect and publish relevant data or statistics or to assist in their collection or publication; and

(j) to promote, encourage and undertake research into child abuse and neglect; and

(k) to encourage the provision, by educational institutions, of courses offering instruction about child abuse and neglect and its prevention and treatment; and

(l) generally to do such other things which the Minister believes will further the object of this Act.