BackThe Acting Ombudsman and Convenor of the NSW Child Death Review Team (CDRT), Professor John McMillan AO, tabled the CDRT’s annual report for 2016-17.
The work that the CDRT does is focused on one key outcome – to prevent the deaths of children. The report details the degree to which the CDRT’s recommendations to prevent or reduce the likelihood of child deaths have been accepted by government, and the progress being made by agencies to implement them.
As at June 2017, the CDRT was monitoring 16 recommendations. Most of the CDRT’s recommendations have been accepted, and there has been progress in their implementation. For example:
- In relation to improving protection against vaccine preventable infectious diseases, NSW Health reports they have taken of a range of actions to increase vaccination rates among children.
- Following a review of deaths resulting from asthma, the CDRT made recommendations relating to school-based support for children with asthma and their families.
Not all the CDRT’s recommendations have been accepted, in particular those related to quad bikes and pool safety. The CDRT’s view is that there is a strong case in favour of legislating to prohibit any child under 16 years from using an adult sized quad bike or side-by-side vehicle on private property or in recreational vehicle areas.
As well, the Acting Ombudsman noted that the NSW Government had not accepted recommendations designed to ensure the safety of swimming pools when children are around. The CDRT made a number of recommendations, including that a single standard for swimming pool barrier fencing be established, and that automatic exemptions from swimming pool safety barrier requirements be removed.
See the full report below.
Source: New South Wales Ombudsman
