The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 (Act No.28/1997) came into effect on 1 July 2000. Together with the Youth Justice Act 1997, which commenced in 1999, this legislation brought about significant changes in the delivery of care and protection and youth justice services in Tasmania.
According to Ombudsman Tasmania (2004), the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act takes a multidisciplinary approach. The object of the Act is ‘to provide for the care and protection of children in a manner that maximizes the child’s opportunity to grow up in a safe and stable environment and to reach his or her full potential.’ (Part 1, Section 7)
Planning for this Act began in 1976. That year the Advisory Council agreed that the proposed act should consider the child in the context of their families and communities.