LEGISLATION UPDATE
Children Youth and Families (Permanent Care and Other Matters) Bill 2014
The Victorian Government announced legislative amendments to the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 to promote planning, decision making and permanency for vulnerable children and young people, referred to as Children Youth and Families (Permanent Care and Other Matters) Bill 2014 (Bill). The Bill will also make other amendments to the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA) that include:
- Increasing penalties for existing child protection offences
- Providing children and young people that voluntarily participate in a therapeutic treatment of sexually abusive behaviours with the same protections against criminal proceedings as those children and young people participating as part of a therapeutic treatment order.
- Youth justice
There are proposed amendments to the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 that relate to the conduct of inquiries and responding to adverse comments or opinions in reports.
The attached fact sheet below explains the proposed amendments in this Bill.
This Bill has now passed and is awaiting Royal Assent.
