In 2022, the Commissioner began hearing from children and young people in out-of-home care and others that there had been a change to the way children were being looked after, or case managed, by the then Department of Communities. For some children and young people, this change meant that they no longer had a dedicated Child Safety Officer. Instead, they were case managed by a team of Child Safety Officers, who they could contact via a generic email or telephone number. The Commissioner heard that children and young people in care were concerned by the change, and they did not have a say.

The Commissioner was concerned that the development and implementation of the change to case management may not have been consistent with some or all of the nine rights of children and young people under the Charter of Rights for Tasmanian children and young people in Care (the Charter). Further to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people in care, the Charter sets out the right of a child or young person to participate in decisions that affect them.

In line with her powers under the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act 2016 (Tas), the Commissioner investigated this change as a matter relevant to the wellbeing and rights of children and young people in care, and the operation of the out-of-home care system as a whole.