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ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
'Scary' child safety system in spotlight ahead of Queensland inquiry
As Queensland's inquiry into the child safety system announces its first public hearing will begin next week, Dakota McSpadden hopes the process will overhaul the "inadequate'' system she experienced as a child. "It never felt like care; it felt like punishment." Ms McSpadden, now aged 20, came to the attention of child safety at the age of nine, was homeless by 13 and entered residential care at 15. Residential care or "resi", as it is known by some, provides a environment where children as young as 12 live together under the watch of a social worker. Ms McSpadden said it was meant to be supportive, "but it was chaos". "People [in resi] turned a blind eye to what I was doing — I needed help … I never got consequences," she said. "I would act out in anger because I was so scared, and I think that's what a lot of kids do." The Sunshine Coast woman is one of many Queenslanders making a submission to the state government's review into what Premier David Crisafulli has called a "broken" child safety system. Led by former Federal Court judge Paul Anastassiou KC, the LNP's 18-month inquiry is examining how the state supports vulnerable children, including its growing reliance on residential care. As of July 2025, more than 2,000 children were in residential care in Queensland, up from 435 in 2015, according to government records. Residential care becomes an option when foster or kinship placements are not available or suitable. Typically, it is for children over 12, but the government's Residential Care Policy provides for children under 12 to be placed into residential care in "specific circumstances". Rebecca Scott has been a foster carer for 15 years in Queensland and Victoria, and spent a year as a residential care support worker on the Sunshine Coast. She described residential care as "confronting" and "unsafe". In one incident, a 10-year-old held a screwdriver to her throat. "These kids were just trying to out-tough each other." Ms Scott said the children often perceived residential care as a rule-free option. "They sabotage their foster homes to get into resi, then they realise it's scary, volatile," she said. Ms Scott said upon leaving resi to start adult life, many young people were ageing out of the system without any support systems in place. "They're turning 18, and they've got no relationship with foster carers or biological family — no one to turn to except kids they met in residential care," she said. The experience has left her convinced that the system is failing both children and carers. "These kids don't need more workers — they need parents," Ms Scott said. The commission's formal opening and first public hearing is set for next Wednesday, July 23, at Brisbane Magistrates Court. A spokesperson for the commission said it was committed to hearing from people with lived experience. Submissions can be made online and public hearings will be held throughout regional Queensland, with those details to be released this month. The commissioner has also had his first regional visit. He recently met with stakeholders during a two-day visit to Townsville, "where there is a significant demand for child safety services", according to the commission's spokesperson. It is not the first time there has been an inquiry into the state's child protection system. Millions of dollars have been spent over the last 25 years on multiple inquiries, resulting in hundreds of recommendations being handed down. The Create Foundation — Australia's peak body representing the 12,500 children and young people in the state's care system — hopes this process will finally result in meaningful change. But in order for that to happen, chief executive officer Imogen Edeson said it must hear the voices of those with firsthand experience. "They talk about coercive practices, constant staff changes, and not feeling at home. Some are left to navigate the system alone." State Minister for Child Safety Amanda Camm also urged those with lived experience to come forward, but warned Queenslanders would be "shocked by the stories" that emerged from the inquiry. Ms Scott, who has had 72 children in her care since 2000, intends to share her firsthand experience. She is calling for more permanent care options, better support for foster carers, and a limit to residential care settings that lack support for young people. Ms Scott said residential care — where there was "no consequences, no consistency" — needed more structure. Ms Scott argued more support for foster carers "when we set rules" could reduce the number of children heading to resi. "Let us make the mistakes … and then let us repair from them, just like a biological parent would," she said. Reflecting on her years in residential care, 20-year-old Dakota McSpadden said having access to support workers with lived experience would make a huge difference to young people in the system. Ms McSpadden will also be advocating for accessible and ongoing mental health support, safe spaces outside hospital, and greater peer connection and emotional support. "If kids knew there's others going through the same thing, they could help each other," she said. The inquiry is due to provide its final report to the state government by November 30, 2026.
Associated Press
01-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Healthcare Systems Architect John Theodore Zabasky Featured in Career Spotlight On Redesigning Access for Underserved Workers
John Theodore Zabasky, California, USA. How One CEO's System-First Approach Is Changing Healthcare Access John Theodore Zabasky, enterprise systems expert and CEO of WorXsiteHR Insurance Solutions, Inc., has been featured in a compelling new career spotlight exploring his path from small-town roots to pioneering healthcare access reform through no-cost employer-sponsored programs. The article, titled 'How John Zabasky Turned Setbacks Into Systems That Help Others,' traces Zabasky's career from early ambitions as a pro athlete, through his education in history and technology, to his hands-on leadership in designing solutions for underserved populations—especially part-time, seasonal, and low-wage workers. 'There's a pattern to broken systems,' Zabasky says in the interview. 'They're rarely built to fail—they're just rarely built for everyone.' The spotlight reveals how Zabasky applied his background in enterprise architecture to launch the HealthWorX Plan, a no-cost healthcare model offered through WorXsiteHR. By combining nonprofit funding with tax-aligned infrastructure and tech-driven automation, HealthWorX removes cost barriers while remaining fully compliant with U.S. labor and benefits law. 'We didn't build it for people with options,' Zabasky explains in the piece. 'We built it for the people with none.' The feature also highlights how personal experiences—such as his wife's and co-founder's battles with serious illness—inspired Zabasky's mission to redesign systems from the ground up. His work now helps bridge critical access gaps for millions of workers often excluded from traditional benefit programs. Far from a high-level executive detached from product execution, Zabasky remains actively involved in code reviews, systems design, and employee mentorship. The article offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he balances technical leadership with values-driven strategy. 'I still build,' he says. 'If you don't understand the parts, you can't fix the whole.' The piece has already sparked interest from business leaders, nonprofit strategists, and HR professionals looking to understand how infrastructure-led innovation can solve real-world challenges—without flashy promises or superficial fixes. To read more, visit the website here. About John Theodore Zabasky: John Zabasky is an American entrepreneur, healthcare executive, and enterprise systems architect. He is the founder and CEO of WorXsiteHR Insurance Solutions, Inc., creator of the HealthWorX Plan, and a two-time PhD graduate with degrees spanning history, information systems, and health sciences. Through his nonprofit healthcare model, he oversees the donation of over $100 million annually in services to underserved populations. Outside of work, he is an avid golfer, baseball fan, and lifelong learner. Contact: [email protected] Media Contact Contact Person: John Theodore Zabasky Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: Source: Erase Technologies, LLC
