A commitment to care for our most vulnerable members

As the true local publication, Redland City News is covering the fast-approaching Queensland State Election and bringing our readers the important news throughout the campaign.

For the remainder of our coverage, we will be hearing from both major parties who will be fighting to gain the keys to Parliament House.

In the 10th week of this coverage, we are looking at Child Safety, Seniors, and Disability Services and what issues the residents of the electorates of Capalaba, Redlands, and Oodgeroo are facing across this portfolio.

The Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services’ vision is for Queensland’s children, young people, seniors, carers, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to be safe, empowered in their families, communities and culture and thriving socially and economically.

The department works to keep children, young people, and their families safe and connected to their culture and communities and to lead systemic changes to improve the lives of seniors, carers, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as delivering targeted services and supports to people with disability.

The department’s objectives are to:

• enable families to safely care for their children and young people, and provide services to support the safety, belonging and wellbeing needs of children and young people not able to be cared for by their families.
• reduce the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.
• deliver high-quality programs, services and safeguards and promote the inclusion, rights and social and economic participation of seniors, carers and people with disability.
• implement, influence and invest in equitable, accessible and inclusive policies, programs and services that support and empower culturally and linguistically diverse Queenslanders to participate in, benefit from and contribute to the economy and community.

The department supports the government’s objectives for the community:

• Good jobs: Good, secure jobs in our traditional and emerging industries.
• Better services: Deliver even better services right across Queensland.
• Great lifestyle: Protect and enhance our Queensland lifestyle as we grow.

Service delivery statements

• partnering with the Queensland Family and Child Commission and Department of Justice and Attorney General to oversee the implementation of new requirements to achieve child safe organisations.
• continuing to deliver frontline digital applications that are critical to supporting the child protection system.
• invest in a program of reforms as an initial response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and the review of the National

Disability Insurance Scheme.

• continue to implement and promote Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-2027
• continue to deliver key services and initiatives for older Queenslanders across the state, including community safety to drive economic benefits, improve social outcomes and create greater social inclusion.
• lead the development of the Queensland Multicultural Action Plan.
• continue to ensure that care allowance payments reflect eligibility based on the Child Strengths and Needs Assessment.
• strengthen community cohesion in Queensland by expanding support under the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance Program and broadening engagement with children through the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma.
• support the African Youth Support Council’s African Villages in Moorooka, Geebung and Redbank Plains to build a sense of belonging, identity, establish strategic partnerships, engage with the system and build positive relationships in safe spaces for African youth and community members.

Joint statement from Amanda Stoker, Russell Field and Rebecca Young, LNP candidates for Oodgeroo, Capalaba and Redlands.

An LNP government will deliver a $383 million Safer Children, Safer Communities policy, with a plan to reform the broken Residential Care system and protect our state’s most vulnerable children. It includes:

• New 24hr dual carer supervision model for Residential Care.
• Reform Residential Care system to break the cycle of youth crime with a focus on discipline and education.
• 20% boost to Child Safety officer numbers to aid early intervention.
• A SecureCare facility for young people with mental health needs who are a danger to themselves or others.
• A professional foster care pilot program for kids with complex needs.
• $1500 boost to yearly allowance for each child in out-of-home care, for education and extracurricular activities.
• New independent complaints escalation process for complex cases to support families and carers.

Labor has failed to keep our most vulnerable kids safe, and without guidance, discipline and support, an increasing number of children have fallen into Queensland’s Youth Crime Crisis.

The LNP’s plan will stop the pipeline of kids turning to crime, and restore safety where you live.

Joint statement from Irene Henley, Don Brown, and Kim Richards, ALP candidates for Oodgeroo, Capalaba and Redlands.

Only Labor is doing what matters for Queenslanders with disability, seniors, and our most vulnerable children and young people.

We continue to provide $2.5 billion annually to the NDIS and have committed more than $160 million to a package of disability reforms as an initial response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, as well as the NDIS Review.

In 2024-25, we are investing $2.3 billion in child and family services.

Since being elected in 2015, we have employed 518 new child safety officers, a 58% increase.

In the 2024-25 Queensland State Budget, we allocated $20 million for seniors services, including isolation services, legal support and financial assistance.

The LNP cut what matters. And it’s on the record.

1. Disability services cut by $642 million and 600 jobs.
2. Seniors budget slashed by 63 per cent.
3. Child and family services cut by $200 million and more than 225 jobs.