Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 - SECT 16

Responsibilities of the Secretary

16. Responsibilities of the Secretary



(1) Without limiting any other responsibility of the Secretary under this Act,
the Secretary has the following responsibilities-

   (a)  to promote the prevention of child abuse and neglect;

   (b)  to assist children who have suffered abuse and neglect and to provide
        services to their families to prevent further abuse and neglect from
        occurring;

   (c)  to work with community services to promote the development and
        adoption of common policies on risk and need assessment for vulnerable
        children and families;

   (d)  to implement or promote the implementation of appropriate requirements
        for checks to ensure that all persons employed, engaged or appointed
        by a community service to work with children-

   (i)  are and continue to be suitable to work with children; and

   (ii) comply with appropriate ethical and professional standards;

   (e)  to work with other government agencies and community services to
        ensure that children in out of home care receive appropriate
        educational, health and social opportunities;

   (f)  to publish and promote a Charter for children in out of home care to
        provide a framework of principles to promote the wellbeing of those
        children;

   (g)  to provide or arrange for the provision of services to assist in
        supporting a person under the age of 21 years to gain the capacity to
        make the transition to independent living where the person-

   (i)  has been in the custody or under the guardianship of the Secretary;
        and

   (ii) on leaving the custody or guardianship of the Secretary is of an age
        to, or intends to, live independently;

   (h)  to conduct research on child development, abuse and neglect and to
        evaluate the effectiveness of community based and protective
        interventions in protecting children from harm, protecting their
        rights and promoting their development;

        (i)    to lead the on-going development of an integrated child and
               family service system;

   (j)  to give effect to any protocol existing between the Secretary and an
        Aboriginal agency.

(2) The statement of responsibilities of the Secretary under this section does
not create, or confer on any person, any right or entitlement enforceable at
law.







(3) The matters that may be addressed in the Charter for children in out of
home care may include-

   (a)  the protection and enhancement of a child's identity and sense of
        self;

   (b)  treatment in care;

   (c)  quality of placement;

   (d)  support and provision of services.

(4) The kinds of services that may be provided to support a person to make the
transition to independent living include-

   (a)  the provision of information about available resources and services;

   (b)  depending on the Secretary's assessment of need-

   (i)  financial assistance;

   (ii) assistance in obtaining accommodation or setting up a residence;

   (iii) assistance with education and training;

   (iv) assistance with finding employment;

   (v)  assistance in obtaining legal advice;

   (vi) assistance in gaining access to health and community services;

   (c)  counselling and support.