The Uplifting Care Expert Panel commences

19 February 2025

Roger Jaensch, Minister for Children and Youth

The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s Uplifting Care Independent Expert Panel has met for the first time today.

Minister for Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch said the Panel’s role will be to guide the development and implementation of the strategy and initiatives for the Tasmanian service system for children and young people in care.

"This Panel is a critical part of the Bright Lives: Uplifting Care initiative designed to

improve the safety, wellbeing, and rights of children and young people in Out of Home Care as recommended by the Commission of Inquiry,” Minister Jaensch said.

“The Panel is being chaired by Professor Leah Bromfield who is the former Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.

“Importantly, the Panel also includes young people with lived experience in Out of Home Care in Tasmania and I thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of other young people.

“The Members’ diverse expertise will inform the independent advice provided to the Department for Education Children and Young People, to ensure that reform of the Out of Home Care system is child-centred, evidence-based, and aligns with contemporary best practice.

“It is critical that the care services we provide children and young people are holistic, trauma informed, culturally connected and therapeutic, and the guidance provided by the Panel is vital to these efforts.

“They will be able to provide informed advice on the Government’s efforts to deliver services that ultimately safeguard the rights and safety of children and young people in care against the evidence base within the national context.”

The Tasmanian Government’s support for these improvements is part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

The Independent Expert Panel consists of:

• Professor Leah Bromfield (Chair): Director and Chair of Child Protection at the Australian Centre for Child Protection, former Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry.
• Deb Tsorbaris: CEO and sector expertise representative from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and Chair of Families Australia.
• Associate Professor Tim Moore: Deputy Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies. Co-author of Take notice, believe us and act! Exploring the safety of children and young people in government run organisations (2023).
• Associate Professor Maria Harries AM: Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and a Senior Honorary Research Fellow in Social Work and Social Policy in the School of Population Health at The University of Western Australia.
• Tara Payne: Youth advocate with lived experience of the Tasmanian care system.
• Sorayah Witzerman: Lived experience advocate with experience of the care system, holding a Bachelor of Health Science and Postgraduate studies in Public Health. Working as a Senior Youth Worker, delivering an early intervention crime prevention initiative for children and youth.
• Raylene Foster: Chief Operations Officer for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and the Tasmanian Director on the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
• Dianne Baldock: Member of the Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance (TRACA), a Director of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service and Board Member of the Justice Reinvestment Network Australia.
• Noel Fittock: Retired senior child safety practitioner, who played a lead role in the creation of the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line.
• Dr Julian Watchorn: Psychologist, and Carer support and trainer for Foster and Kinship Carers Association Tasmania.
• [Ex-Officio] Ruth Davidson: DECYP Ex-Officio Member, Director Child and Student Wellbeing.
• [Ex-Officio] Peter Whitcombe: DECYP Ex-Officio Member, Deputy Secretary, Child safety and Youth Justice Operations.
• [Ex-Officio] Kai Kitchin: DECYP Ex-Officio Member, Principal Practice Manager, Child Safety Service, Child Safety and Youth Justice

Quotes from Professor Leah Bromfield (Chair):  

“I am so pleased to have the opportunity to Chair the Uplifting Care Independent Expert Panel and to be able to inform the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations for out-of-home care, and for the Independent Expert Panel to support the Government to realise the hope for a care system that is consistently safe and caring, and which supports children to thrive.”