Where now on the care of children? - Ian Hyslop - 7 June - AKL

The final Rebstock Report is out. What do you think she is suggesting in these summary points?

•   A new child-centred operating model with a greater focus on harm and trauma prevention and early intervention. ...a single point of accountability for the long-term wellbeing of vulnerable children, ... the voice of the child represented in planning and strategy.

•   A social investment approach using actuarial valuations and evidence of what works will identify the best way of targeting early interventions, to ensure that vulnerable children receive the care and support they need, when they need it.

•   Direct purchasing of vital services such as health, education and counselling support ... funding to follow the child, ... immediate access to assistance.

•   A focus on reducing the over-representation of Maori [youth] in the system. Strategic partnerships with iwi groups and NGOs.

•   Raising the age of state care to a young person’s 18th birthday, + transition support up to the age of 25. Cabinet to also investigate raising the youth justice age to 17.

•   Establishing an independent youth advocacy service to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard.

  The website extolls the merits of this $$$ exercise. These points tell us what may be about to happen about the welfare of children. They hint at new terminology, a paradigm shift, tweaks to policy! What will this look like in practice? Will there be more resources? Will workers be better off? Is it policy to suit the 1%? What do we take from the messages?

  Ian Hyslop can speak to these questions. He has already written about the agenda running here and why we might need to be concerned. At stake is the care of children in Aotearoa New Zealand? Will there be better outcomes? What will be asked of the staff working in the field? Does this address underlying poverty?