$342m to children’s services – The Daily Telegraph

By ALICIA WOOD

VULNERABLE children and their families will get a $342million funding increase over two years — as the NSW government signs off on an extension of the Keep Them Safe program.

Due to lose funding in June, the program goes towards Family and Community Services and NSW Health, Justice, and Education agencies to make child protection a shared responsibility — a key recommendation from the Wood Commission into child protection services.

Of the $171 million a year, $73.9 million will go to government agencies for things such as out-of-home care and Children’s magistrates.

Another $97.1 million will go to prevention and early intervention services.

Community Services Minister Gabrielle Upton said the funding would hopefully reduce the number of vulnerable children in NSW.

“This commitment is particularly important to our partner non-government organisations that are a critical part of delivering real outcomes on the frontline of child protection and wellbeing,” Ms Upton said. “This $342 million will ensure vulnerable children and families continue to receive support while a comprehensive evaluation of Keep Them Safe is completed.”