COMMUNITIES —
INDIGENOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES REPORT
242. Hon
NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for
Child Protection:
I
refer to the article in The West Australian titled ''Department
of Communities failed to follow up on plans to create working group to
address 'racism' report'', which reported that the
senior working group intended to respond to the damning Indigenous
Psychological Services report by Dr Tracy Westerman in 2019 was never formed.
(1) Has this
senior working group now been established?
(2) If no to (1),
why not?
(3) If yes to (1),
when did this occur?
(4) Further to
(3), who are the members of the group?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) Since
receiving the Indigenous Psychological Services report in 2019, the Department
of Communities leadership team has continued to focus on improving the cultural
capability of the agency and ensuring that the report recommendations are
considered in service and operational improvements. A significant body of work has been undertaken by Communities
across a range of programs and initiatives that address the
recommendations provided. The Aboriginal cultural capability reform program,
published on 15 February 2022, outlines the actions Communities is undertaking
to address the issues highlighted and continue the department's
cultural reform journey. Communities recognises that cultural change is
required across the whole agency, not just in relation to Child Protection
Services. A dedicated project team within Communities Aboriginal Outcomes
division is leading the implementation of key actions within the agency's
Aboriginal cultural competency reform program.