Responsibility: State and territory governments
Response:
NSW: Accept
ACT, SA, QLD, VIC, WA, NT: Accept in principle
Australian Capital Territory
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
Work is underway through the ACT Government’s Early Years Working Group to pilot a 3-year-old check in Early Childhood Education and Care settings. While the Ages and Stages questionnaire – Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ-TRAK) will not be utilised during the pilot phase, it may be considered as a monitoring tool if the 3-year-old check is expanded across the Territory.
ACT acknowledges the importance for culturally appropriate developmental screening tools for children. The BAYLEY Scale for Infants and Toddlers is used to assess children below 3.5 years, noting this is a validated tool for First Nations children.
ACT government response July 2024
Work is underway through the ACT Government’s Early Years Working Group, to consider three-year-old developmental checks and the Australian Early Development Census, which addresses some parts of this recommendation. The ACT Government will consider options to expand this work to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children up to five years coming into out of home care using the Ages and Stages questionnaire – Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ-TRAK) tool.
New South Wales
Response: Accept
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
The NSW Ministry of Health is working with local health districts and specialty health networks to identify and implement strategies and initiatives to increase the use of the Ages and States Questionnaire – Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ-TRAK) within the Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) Health Pathway program, including:
- prioritisation of this action by the OOHC Health Pathway Program Health Leadership Committee for 2025
- supporting additional staff to undertake ASQ-TRAK training
- reviewing data to understand current use of the assessment tool.
NSW government response July 2024
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that all Aboriginal children 0-5 entering statutory out-of-home care are screened using this tool.
The NSW Health Out-of-home Care Health Pathway Program is a joint initiative with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. The program enables health screening and planning for all children and young people entering statutory out-of-home care (for at least 90 days). NSW Health local health districts are being supported to use the ASQ-TRAK, including through the provision of additional ASQ-TRAK kits and access to ASQ-TRAK training. NSW Health has commenced a scoping exercise to understand the extent of the use of the ASQ-TRAK tool and will address any gaps in its use once identified.
Northern Territory
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
In the Northern Territory, the ASQ-TRAK is used in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services and other early childhood and health programs across the Northern Territory. It is particularly valuable in remote and regional communities where mainstream developmental screening tools may not be culturally appropriate. Training programs for ASQ-TRAK administration are available to ensure professionals use the tool effectively and respectfully.
Organisations such as Menzies School of Health Research and Kids Research Institute have supported the development and rollout of ASQ-TRAK in the Northern Territory. Once screening has occurred and issues are identified appropriate referrals to specialist interventions and support such as a referral to the NDIS occur.
NT government response July 2024
The Northern Territory Government is committed to supporting the holistic development of First Nations children in the Northern Territory. It is accepted in principle that all First Nations children up to 5 years of age entering out-of-home care are screened using the culturally adapted Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)-TRAK tool. The Northern Territory Government focus will be on ensuring culturally appropriate assessments that consider the unique needs and contexts of First Nations children and families. The importance of early intervention for children identified as vulnerable in 2 or more domains of development is acknowledged and we will work towards streamlining the application process for an Early Childhood Early Intervention plan, leveraging existing frameworks such as the NDIS where applicable.
Queensland
Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What has been achieved to date
Scoping of project deliverables is underway including consultation with stakeholders and partners regarding the use of ASQ-TRAK, its suitability and appropriate methods of delivery in the Queensland context; and any additional resourcing and training needs that may be required.
QLD government response
The Queensland Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission. The Queensland Government has updated its responses to a range of Disability Royal Commission recommendations to reflect contemporary Queensland Government policy and commitments.
2025 response
The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring that screening checks for First Nations children with disability entering the child protection system are culturally appropriate. The Queensland Government will consult further with partners regarding the use of ASQ-TRAK.
South Australia
Response: Accept in principle
Status: Completed
What has been achieved to date
Current policies and practices in South Australia are consistent with this recommendation, and has such it has been marked as complete.
The South Australian Department of Child Protection notes that the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ-TRAK) is in use within South Australia for Aboriginal children entering care.
SA government response July 2024
The South Australian government is committed to ensuring screening is culturally safe. The ASQ-TRAK is broadly used in South Australia as the developmental screening tool for Aboriginal children and young people coming into out-of-home care. Developmental assessments are a component of the Preliminary Health Checks and Comprehensive Health and Developmental Assessments that all children and young people in South Australia are required to have when they enter out-of-home care.
Tasmania
Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What has been achieved to date
The Tasmanian Department of Health is exploring options on the most efficient pathway to implement Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids to ensure that all Aboriginal children up to five years of age coming into out-of-home care are appropriately screened and supported.
TAS government response July 2024
The Tasmanian Government accepts this recommendation in principle.
The Tasmanian Government sees the screening suggested in this recommendation fitting well within our Child Health and Parenting Services (CHaPS) model and need to do further work to implement this.
Victoria
Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What has been achieved to date
The Victorian Government’s Pathway to Good Health program (4-year funding from 2023-24) delivers statewide targeted health screening, assessment, referrals and health planning to all Victorian children aged 0-17 years entering or re-entering statutory child protection care. It supports Aboriginal specific pathways through the leadership of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) in designing demonstration sites for culturally safe care for Aboriginal children but only in designated locations.
VIC government response July 2024
We accept this recommendation in principle.
Our Maternal and Child Health services currently use the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and BRIGANCE tools for developmental screening of children from birth to school age.
Some Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health providers already use the ASQ-TRAK. However, Maternal and Child Health services delivered through local government and health services do not.
Victorian Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations have welcomed the availability of a culturally appropriate and safe developmental screening tool. Some have expressed interest in using the ASQ-TRAK.
The Department of Health will:
- continue to work with and support any Victorian Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations who want to use the ASQ-TRAK within the Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health program (depending on availability of funding)
- consider the benefit of using the ASQ-TRAK tool as part of the Maternal and Child Health program, recognising that PEDS and BRIGANCE are the existing Victorian tools.
Western Australia
Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
There is ongoing use of the ASQ TRAK with Aboriginal caregivers in Health Screening processes for Aboriginal Children in Care. Further work is being completed to ensure appropriate use of the ASQ TRAK in programs supporting the development of Aboriginal Children in Care.
WA government response July 2024
The WA Government accepts in principle this recommendation. Implementation is underway with the screening tools endorsed for use with Aboriginal caregivers by Community Health Services in Western Australia including the ASQ-TRAK and ASQ Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2™). Selection of the most appropriate version of the ASQ is based on the cultural identity of the caregiver who is providing information about a child’s development. The ASQ TRAK is designed for use with Aboriginal caregivers. The WA government will consider mechanisms to increase the use of the ASQ TRAK with Aboriginal caregivers in other health assessment services.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
State and territory governments should ensure all First Nations children up to five years of age coming into out-of-home care are screened using the culturally adapted developmental screening Ages and Stages Questionnaire -Talking about Raising Aboriginal Kids (ASQ-TRAK) tool. Children who are vulnerable in two or more of the five domains of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social should be supported by an application for an Early Childhood Early Intervention plan.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.