Stocktake of child protection to 'identify gaps' Teddy bear with stuffing coming out. Photo by Quentin Jones. For SMH Money 010606. The Queensland Government must "stocktake" its existing child protection system by February 2014 before beginning the biggest-ever shake-up of child protection in Queensland. The government released its main responses this morning to Commissioner Tim Carmody's July 2103 review of Queensland's child protection services. The timetable for the changes begins after a review of existing services finishes in February 2014, the report shows. "A stocktake of services - both government and non-government - will be completed by February 2014 to inform where and what services are available and identify gaps," it says. There are many structural changes announced this morning, including likely changes to the Department of Communities and Child Safety. David Hourigan, Deputy Director-General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, will chair the first of two new groups, a Child Protection Reform Leaders Group. It includes "senior executives" from eight departments and one community agency. It will include "senior executives" from the departments of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services; Queensland Health; Education, Training and Employment; Justice and the Attorney General; Queensland Police, the Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Islander and Multicultural Affairs; Housing; Treasury and Trade; and a non-government organisation. This group must set up regional Child Protection Reform Leaders committees around the state by early 2014. There is also a new Queensland Family and Child Commission, the name given to the Family and Child Council that Commissioner Tim Carmody recommended in July. It will have an advisory board, report to the Premier, lead research, and evaluate progress. However the report, released this morning by Child Safety Minister Tracy Davis, appears to have baulked at some steps to improve child protection in indigenous families. That was the main thrust identified by care groups last week. Commissioner Tim Carmody recommended a new "peak body" be funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety, ATSI to develop the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled agencies. However the government has agreed to this only, "in-principle." The report makes clear that it is reviewing funding a several indigenous care agencies. It will fund an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Service Reform Project. This project includes a committee - chaired by Mr Hourigan and the deputy director-general of the Department of Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs - to examine the existing services and report back to the Child Protection Reform Leaders Group. It will review the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Support Services (ATSIFSS) program. However it has adopted the principle of trying more simplified "kin networks" to keep indigenous children in culturally-sensitive networks. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children should be placed with kin, as a first preference, or with culturally appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander foster carers as far as possible. Why the review is needed: Child protection cases in Queensland have tripled. The rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care has tripled, the number of children in out-of-home care has more than doubled, and children in care are staying there for longer periods. The budget for child protection services has more than tripled, going from $182.3 million in 2003-04 to $773 million in 2012-13. The government's response can be read here. Changes are needed because the 8600 children in care in Queensland currently cost the state budget around $820 million per year. Minister Tracy Davis said the number of children in care could grow by 40 per cent to 12,000. "And alongside that, a budget that looks at $1.5 billion a year," she said. Ms Davis said the first 12 months for government should be a planning period. "During that period we can identify how those reforms will roll out and how we can deal with the costs of those reforms through the normal budget process," she said. The main thrust of Commissioner Carmody's review is to divert children and families out of the "statutory system" - ie the Department of Child Safety - and into a more community-based support network. Ms Davis said there was not a plan to outsource case worker loads to private-sector agencies. However some family support services and parenting programs would be provided by the non-government sector. She did not foresee major changes within the Department of Child Safety as a result of the review.