In line with our commitment to keep children and young people safe and well, the Australian Government is approaching the market for an organisation to lead and deliver child and family wellbeing services on Norfolk Island.
The successful organisation will lead, manage and deliver the services of the Child and Family Wellbeing Unit, including statutory child protection services, on Norfolk Island to support and encourage young people and families to reach their potential and promote safety in the community.
These services will include community education, parenting support, early intervention, case management, investigation of child safety concerns, family mediation, statutory intervention and support for out-of-home care placements.
The Department has been responsible for the leadership and management of statutory child protection and related child and family wellbeing services on Norfolk Island since July 2016, with these services contracted to a non-government organisation since 2018.
Under this service model, the non-government organisation – funded by the Australian Government – has provided personnel to act as the Child Welfare Officer under the Child Welfare Act 2009 [NI], as well as leading, staffing, and managing the Child and Family Wellbeing Unit on Norfolk Island.
The current contract with Key Assets expires in 31 December 2021. Following this tender process, the service provider is expected to commence on 1 January 2022, with the contract period for three years with a possible additional one year extension.
Under the contractual arrangements, the Child and Family Wellbeing service provider will work closely with local families and the community, in collaboration with other services such as childcare, Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Services (NIHRACS), NICS, police, NIRC and governments.
Through this, we will support the maintenance of existing high quality services, tailored to needs of NI community and in line with comparable mainland services, as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of children and families on Norfolk Island.
As part of this process, the Government and the successful provider will make sure there is a smooth transition to the new contract operations. I will keep you informed as the tender process progresses.
Eric Hutchinson
Administrator of Norfolk Island
October 2021