On June 20, the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor Bill 2024 passed the Tasmanian Parliament.
So what’s it all about?
What is the implementation monitor?
- The Implementation Monitor is a new statutory role set up through the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor Act 2024. This act sets out the functions, powers, reporting arrangements and objectives of the role.
- This new role will support the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to establish an independent person to oversee and report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
- The aims of the Monitor, in broad terms, are to make sure the Government is accountable and transparent about the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry reform recommendations and report to Parliament on their progress and effectiveness over time.
- The Monitor will also look at and evaluate other recommendations, including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Independent Inquiry into Tasmania’s Department for Education’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the review of Child Safety and Governance in the Launceston General Hospital and other recommendations that are referred to the Monitor.
What will the monitor do?
- The Monitor will report to Parliament each year on the progress of the Commission of Inquiry and other reform recommendations. This report will include independent evaluation of how effective the measures and actions taken have been, especially around safety of children and young people in government and government-funded institutions.
- In the first year, the Monitor is expected to develop and publish an evaluation and monitoring framework that will include baseline data requirements. This will be developed in consultation with people with lived experience, children and young people, government Agencies and other community organisations.
- The work of the Monitor will involve independent evaluations and will report on the extent to which implementation is making improvements towards the prevention of sexual abuse of children in institutions, improved institutional responses to the sexual abuse and improvement in the support of survivors of such abuse.
- It is a significant and important role that seeks to make sure meaningful change happens so that children and young people in Tasmania feel safe and are safe.
What happens now the bill is passed?
- As the Bill passed both Houses of Parliament, it has received Royal Assent (the formal signature of the Governor) and has been proclaimed.
- A project has started to set up the Office of the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor, including staffing, corporate support and accommodation arrangements.
- The role of the Implementation Monitor will be appointed shortly through an open, merit based recruitment process. This is an important step forward to make sure the Commission of Inquiry recommendations are effectively monitored and evaluated.