DPA opposes this Bill in its current form.
Disabled children and young people are overrepresented in the care and services of the Oranga Tamariki system, any changes to the monitoring and oversight of this system will have a disproportionate impact on the future wellbeing of disabled children and young people and their whānau.
DPA is concerned that the Bill ignores many reports on what independent and effective monitoring of the Oranga Tamariki (OT) system should look like.
If this Bill progresses in its current form, there is a high risk of continuing the five year cycle of a broken care system given a new name. To ensure meaningful change, we need an effective watchdog that has authority to independently monitor and protect tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau in the Oranga Tamariki system.
DPA believes strongly that significant changes are needed to achieve a truly independent and effective monitoring system of the Oranga Tamariki system. However, we strongly feel that this Bill as proposed actually weakens rather than strengthens progress to an independent and effective monitoring system.
DPA strongly urges the Committee to retain and strengthen the powers of the Office of the Children’s Commission to ensure that it can be a truly independent and effective Monitor in regards to the Oranga Tamariki system.
DPA made a number of recommendations in our submission - read DPA's full submission on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill (Word Doc)