Department of Health and Human Services

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES

Level 1, 99 Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tasmania
GPO Box 125, HOBART TAS 7001, Australia
Ph: 1300 135 513
Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

Right to Information Decision

Right to Information No.: RTI201516-073
Applicant:

Ms Rebecca White
Shadow Minister for Human Services
Tasmanian Labor Party

Date of Application:

11 December 2015

Information Requested
1

A breakdown of how many children and young people in Out of Home Care who have not been placed
with foster carers have been accommodated since March 2014.

How many children and young people have been provided with tents for accommodation since March
2014?

How many children and young people have been accommodated in camping grounds, caravan parks, or
other grounds?

What camp grounds, caravan parks, or other grounds have been used to accommodate young people?

The lengths of time children and young people have been accommodated in camping grounds, caravan
parks, or other grounds and at what cost?

For any children or young people accommodated in camp grounds, caravan parks or other grounds after
that period of accommodation has been ceased, what type of accommodation has the child or young
person transitioned to and who is responsible for that accommodation?

Any information briefing notes, minutes, or other correspondence relating to the accommodation of
children and young people in Out of Home Care in camping grounds, caravan parks, or other grounds
since March 2014.

Application Fee
The prescribed application fee was waived in accordance with Section 16(2)(b) (the applicant is a Member of
Parliament acting in connection with his or her official duty) of the Right to Information Act 2009.

Decision and Statement of Reasons

1

A breakdown of how many children and young people in Out of Home Care who have not
been placed with foster carers have been accommodated since March 2014.
There were 209 children and young people who were placed in living arrangements other than foster
carers (including formal kinship carers) in the period 1 April 2014 31 December 2015, including
residential care, independent living options, and shelters:
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Placement Type
Cottage Care

24

Detention & Remand

Family Group Home

35

Independent

47

Independent supported

Other adult

Other Establishment

42

Residential Care

Shelter

Sibling Group Care

16

Therapeutic Residential Care

12

Therapeutic Services

Total

Children

209

How many children and young people have been provided with tents for accommodation
since March 2014?
Please refer to question 1 for a list of the standard recorded accommodation types used by CYS in its
information system. Other information available to me indicates one youth was provided with a tent
during this period.

How many children and young people have been accommodated in camping grounds,
caravan parks, or other grounds?
Please refer to Question 2. Other information available to me indicates one youth in care was
accommodated in a camping ground, caravan park or other ground.

What camp grounds, caravan parks, or other grounds have been used to accommodate
young people?
Please refer to question 2. In the exceptional circumstances represented above, a facility of this type was
accessed and used in Southern regional Tasmania. In accordance with section 103 (Duty to Maintain
Confidentiality) of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1997, I am unable to provide further
particulars due to the risk of identifying personal information relating to a child 1(a), a childs family 1(c)
and any person alleged to have abused, neglected or threatened a child 1(d).

The lengths of time children and young people have been accommodated in camping
grounds, caravan parks, or other grounds and at what cost?
Please refer to Question 2. Information available to me indicates that the length of stay for the youth in
question was 132 days. The cost associated with this stay was $5 271.70. To avoid any misconception
that may arise, the youth did not reside in a tent.

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For any children or young people accommodated in camp grounds, caravan parks or other
grounds after that period of accommodation has been ceased, what type of
accommodation has the child or young person transitioned to and who is responsible for
that accommodation?
Please refer to Question 4. The information available to me indicates that following this period the youth
chose their own accommodation arrangements. At the date of the release of this RTI the youth in
question is within the youth justice system.

Any information briefing notes, minutes, or other correspondence relating to the

accommodation of children and young people in Out of Home Care in camping grounds,
caravan parks, or other grounds since March 2014.
No information can be provided to respond to this question in accordance with section 103 (Duty to
Maintain Confidentiality), sub section 1 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1997.

Decision Made by
This decision was made by David Nicholson, A/Secretary, the principal Right to Information Officer of the
Department of Health and Human Services, appointed by an instrument of delegation in accordance with
section 24 of the Right to Information Act 2009.
Under Section 44 of the Act you have the right to apply for a review of the decision. To seek a review, you
must apply in writing to the Ombudsman, GPO Box 960, HOBART TAS 7001, within 20 working days of
receiving this notice.

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