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Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh. |
Cape trial should be held all around country: FRC head
ISSUE 188 - 16 Oct 2009
ISSUE 188, October 15, 2009: Tough measures for parents of children who repeatedly miss school should be adopted across the country, the head of a trial program in remote Queensland communities says.
The success of the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) program in four Cape York communities should encourage governments to look at applying the same welfare reform measures in other communities, Queensland FRC commissioner David Glasgow says.
A report tabled in Queensland Parliament this month revealed school attendance figures in the troubled community of Aurukun had almost doubled, from 37 to 63 per cent, since the commission was introduced a year ago.
The three other communities, Mossman Gorge, Hope Vale and Coen, have also seen improved school attendance, with the latter recording figures above the state average.
Mr Glasgow said the commission, which had the power to quarantine the welfare payments of parents whose children missed school repeatedly, could be modified and expanded to suit mainstream communities.
"There are some modifications that could be made to streamline procedures, (but) I think the whole idea of it is commendable and could operate anywhere in Australia," he told reporters in Cairns.
"I don't think there is a great problem with expanding it. It's a matter for (the government) to decide whether this has been successful."
The effectiveness of the welfare reform measures on mainstream communities will be tested in a year-long trial at Logan, south of Brisbane, announced by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh a fortnight ago.
The FRC consists of Mr Glasgow, a former Queensland magistrate, and local commissioners from each of the communities.
The commission is notified when a student fails to attend school without explanation three times in one term, when a child safety notice is issued against parents or when someone breaches their tenancy agreement.
Parents or tenants are then called to meet with the commissioners in an informal setting and are encouraged to reach an agreement to change their behaviour.
If an agreement cannot be reached or is ignored the commission will quarantine and take over management of their income as a last resort. Mr Glasgow said about 100 people had their payments quarantined in the past year, and others had requested their income be managed for them.
Premier Anna Bligh said she was pleased to see the positive results.
"This is a controversial way of doing things. I'm pleased to see some good results early on," Ms Bligh said.
However Indigenous educator Chris Sarra says the jump was due to the school leadership (see story above). - AAP
 
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