•
•
•
•
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communities in decision-making, to guarantee an individualised and
community-sensitive approach
harmonize, make transparent and publicise the criteria for removal and
placement of a child in alternative care
ensure adequate resourcing of child protection services and alternative
care and proper training of those working with and for children in
alternative care
strongly invest in measures developed and implemented for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and communities to prevent their placement
in out-of-home care, provide the adequate support while in alternative care
and facilitate their reintegration into their families and communities
provide adequate training to child protection carers on the rights and
needs of children with disabilities to prevent their maltreatment and abuse
ensure that children in alternative care have access to the mental health
and therapeutic services necessary for their healing and rehabilitation.
Disability, basic health and welfare:
•
provide greater clarity about eligibility criteria and the types of support
covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ensure the
NDIS has the necessary human, technical and financial resources for its
optimal and timely implementation
•
conduct awareness-raising campaigns aimed at government officials, the
public and families to combat the stigmatisation of and prejudice against
children with disabilities and promote a positive image of such children
•
promptly address the disparities in health status of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Island children, children with disabilities, children living in remote or
rural areas, and children in alternative care
•
address the increasing rate of child obesity
•
invest in addressing the underlying causes of children’s suicide and poor
mental health, improve mental health literacy for children to promote
children’s awareness and access to support services, and ensure that the
Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan has a clear child
focused strategy that involves children’s perspectives in the response
services provided
•
prioritise mental health service delivery to children in vulnerable situations,
in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with
disabilities, children in alternative care, homeless children, children living in
rural and remote areas, asylum-seeker, refugee and migrant children,
children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and LGBTI
children
•
strengthen measures to ensure that the prescription of psycho-stimulant
drugs to children with ADHD is used as a measure of last resort and only
after an individualised assessment of the best interests of that child, and
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