Submission on the draft Change For Children Strategy.

The Centre welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the Tasmanian Government’s draft version of the Change for Children 10-year Strategy recently.

Change for Children is Tasmania’s 10-year strategy for upholding the rights of children by preventing, identifying and responding to child sexual abuse. The first two-year Action Plan, Collaborating for Change, is focused on transforming Government institutions and delivering on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, being future-focused, having clear accountability and transparency, and recognising that every Tasmanian has a role to play in keeping children safe.

Change for Children will continue to evolve over time through rolling Action Plans that are informed by evidence and feedback from children and young people, victim-survivors, and the community.

In our submission, we welcomed the Tasmanian government’s recognition of the need for substantial, system-wide reform to guard against the sexual abuse of children. The Strategy consultation draft has clearly defined objectives that aim to uphold the rights of all children, including victim survivors – whether their experiences have been disclosed or not – and ensure that children are safe in all the places where they live, play, learn and heal. These goals are central to the success of a strategic plan of this nature, and the Strategy recognises that keeping children safe is an ongoing, community-wide commitment.

Read the full Submission to the Change for Children Strategy here.