Children in New South Wales will spend no longer than two years in foster care under a state government plan to streamline the adoption process.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian proposed the new laws which will be introduced in parliament this week.

The changes will also give parents and extended family members a chance to resolve child protection risks and avoid having children removed.

NSW Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward tells Chris Smith it’s “about breaking the cycle”.

She says once children who grow up in the system turn 18 years of age, they “drift” and become homeless, with many others ending up in juvenile detention.

“The last thing that you want is for a child to be floating in the out-of-home care system.”

“It’s an approach that needs to be taken… these kids are staying in there for their entire childhood, in the system,” says Chris.

“And it’s a vicious cycle. Hopefully, this goes a long way in breaking it.”

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