1. What is the plan for implementation?
Over the next three months the Australian and State and Territory governments, together with the non‐government sector, will work to develop a detailed Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will focus on the actions agreed to for the first three years and will outline their scope, resourcing and timing.
The Implementation Plan will be considered by the Community and Disability Services Ministerial Advisory Committee at their August meeting.
2. Who is responsible for the National Framework?
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the National Framework on 30 April 2009. The Community and Disability Services Minister's Conference is responsible for the implementation of the National Framework.
A Ministerial Forum on Protecting Australia's Children will also be convened to bring together Ministers with responsibilities under the National Framework.
These groups will be supported by the officials' forum – the Community and Disability Services Ministerial Advisory Committee.
A tripartite National Framework Advisory Committee will be established to advise on the operation of the National Framework and will comprise government officials and non‐government representatives.
Supporting the formal governance mechanisms will be a series of working groups, with members drawn from government and non‐government as appropriate, to assist with the development and implementation of specific action areas or items.
More information on these groups and non‐government representatives will be provided as the Implementation Plan is developed and agreed.
3. How will we know things have changed for children and families?
The National Framework will help children and families both now and into the future by ensuring Australia's children and young people are safe and well, with a substantial and sustained reduction in child abuse and neglect. In time we will see a noticeable difference in:
- Trends in key national indicators of children's health, development and wellbeing
- Trends in hospital admissions and emergency department visits for neglect and injuries to children under three years
- Trends in substantiated child protection cases
- Trends in the number of children in out of home care
The Implementation Plan will be a key tool in measuring progress of the National Framework. All jurisdictions and stakeholders will be able to monitor progress against activities and milestones outlined in the Implementation Plan. A set of performance indicators will be developed as part of the Implementation Plan, providing another opportunity to monitor progress and outcomes. Reporting processes for the National Framework will provide an opportunity to streamline existing reporting processes and to ensure greater levels of transparency.
As part of the reporting and implementation mechanism options for a periodic symposium with key stakeholders to share information and best practice will be explored.
4. How will the National Framework have relevance in future years?
The National Framework is supported by a series of three year action plans. As part of the implementation of these action plans the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments will regularly update the Action Plan to include additional actions, policy development and respond to emerging issues.