Aboriginal Legal Service’s Post

Data Reveals Boost in Child Protection, Family Support https://zurl.co/i1Ry Childsafeguarding.com is available in Australia. Learn more: https://zurl.co/HEE7 #childprotectionaustralia #australia #childsafety #edtech #childsupport #profdev

We're pleased to see The Mandarin feature an article on our latest report, "Supporting Children and Families to Flourish." The report articulates concrete steps to advance a course change on child protection in NSW.   Our report identifies 11 key opportunities to focus the system on the holistic needs of children and towards empowering families and communities through a relational approach to care. It highlights key areas for action, including legal, regulatory, policy and frontline reforms that put people first and build their capabilities.   Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gK9-urN6 Find out more about the report here: https://lnkd.in/gNveH-nx   Centre for Relational Care The Mandarin   #childprotection #policyinnovation

Data Reveals Boost in Child Protection, Family Support https://zurl.co/i1Ry Childsafeguarding.com is available in Australia. Learn more: https://zurl.co/HEE7 #childprotectionaustralia #australia #childsafety #edtech #childsupport #profdev

Early intervention from our family services sector is key to protecting our children from harm. Strong family supports will keep families together, keep kids connected to their community, and help them live their best lives. The Centre advocates for the earliest possible help for children and families in need to prevent escalation to child protection or youth justice. Family services are critical in preventing harm to children. In The Age today: https://loom.ly/dmQhRi8

Calling All Child Protection Advocates in Western Australia! 📣 Are you a professional with 1-2 hrs per month to spare of your personal time? Do you have experience in child protection, or are you someone who has lived through such experiences? We need your voice! I’m excited to announce the formation of a volunteer project group dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by our state’s most vulnerable children with a primary focus on pre birth to 5 years. Backed purely by own experiences and passion to create better outcomes, this group will serve as a platform for sharing insights, discussing innovative solutions, and advocating for the safety and well-being of at-risk infants and children. While we are in the early stages and currently without funding, our passion and commitment to making a difference are boundless. If you have expertise in child protection investigations, domestic violence, public sector policies, or simply a heart full of compassion, we want to hear from you. Let’s come together to safeguard the connections that matter most – those that protect and nurture our children. If you also have knowledge of potential funding pathways, please reach out. Together, we can make a lasting impact. Join us in this crucial conversation and be a part of something transformative. Reach out to me directly to express your interest or to learn more about me and how you can contribute to this vital cause. #ChildProtection #VolunteerGroup #WesternAustralia #ChildSafety #CommunityImpact

It’s no secret that #ChildProtection systems the world over are in a state of flux. The common narrative of ‘broken’ child protection systems reflects an ubiquitous acknowledgment that what we’re doing now isn’t working as intended. So what should we do? I’m not a fan of big-branded quick fixes. The drivers of family vulnerability and child safety are too complex and interconnected with other forms of disadvantage and oppression to overcome with silver bullet policy. A broad range of changes is required and the people most impacted by the operation of the system-as-usual have enormous insight into what some of those changes should be. In our collaborative article in the James Martin Institute for Public Policy journal, #ThePolicymaker, Jessica Cocks, Rob Ryan and I discuss the opportunities for parent-, family- and community-led solutions to form part of the #PolicyReform agenda. Check it out and let us know what you think. #FamilyStrengthening #OutOfHomeCare #SystemsReform #Change

A well written article, I agree on many levels. This reminds me of the Family by Family model which TACSI helped initiate. Family mentoring programs like this are very much needed and generally have positive outcomes. The challenge remains to adopt and integrate the same principles more broadly for families and parents who may be in the midst of a crisis or still navigating involuntary systems. I highlight this example because it shows what can be achieved at a grassroots level, we just need the policymakers to listen. https://lnkd.in/gxBZrFRG https://lnkd.in/gV9FHhmS

Eileen Munro's 2011 review was a pivotal moment in the evolution of child protection. Her insights reshaped the landscape, emphasising the need for a more nuanced, child-centred approach. Reflecting on its legacy, Munro highlights the progress made in transforming child protection practices. However, she also acknowledges the persistent challenges that remain. Josh MacAlister's recent inquiry into children's services builds upon Munro's work, further scrutinising existing systems and proposing innovative solutions. Munro's review laid the groundwork for reimagining child protection, and MacAlister's inquiry continues this momentum by addressing contemporary issues and pushing for necessary reforms. As Munro reflects on the changes since her review, her insights serve as a reminder of the ongoing journey towards safeguarding children's well-being. It's a testament to her enduring influence that her work continues to inform and shape the discourse surrounding child protection. #MTICBIAI #MyTraumaIsChronicButIAmIconic #ChildProtection #EileenMunroReview #JoshMacAlisterInquiry #SocialWork #ChildrensServices #ChildCentredApproach #ChildWelfare #ChildSafety #InnovationInChildProtection #PolicyReforms #SafeguardingChildren #ProtectingOurFuture #LegacyOfReview #ProgressInChildProtection #ChallengesRemain

Early intervention and keeping families together are critical. As are good, safe options to help young people exit residential care into family reunification, foster or kinship placements. In terms of investing and doing things differently, we need to add to the toolkit of child protection and family support workers and give them options to address physical space challenges on families under pressure. Without addressing severe physical space pressures, such as overcrowding or other behavioural challenges within a home, it is impossible for young people to have privacy or concentrate on their education, undermining a positive transition to independence. In some ways it is like trying to end homelessness without workers having access to housing pathways, which are luckily in worker toolkits nowadays thanks to government investment. Proven, high quality, cost-effective space solutions do exist and have amazing impact in avoiding Out of Home Care and creating better exits from care - but they have not yet found their way into core investments by government.  At Kids Under Cover we provide cost-effective backyard studios which ease intense pressure through lack of space in vulnerable homes. We have been able to leverage one-off government funds with support from donors, philanthropy and corporate partners to create a pool of 660 studios housing almost 1,000 vulnerable young Victorians each night. We are ready, willing and able to scale up even further - saving lives and saving taxpayer funds. We recently forwarded a Prospectus to the Victorian Government which calls for a modest investment of $8.8m for another 100 studios specifically targeting 150 young people to avoid placement in care or to assist better placements from resi care. Furthermore we are proposing an investment of $17.6m for 200 more studios to house 300 more Aboriginal young people and support the amazing work of VACCA - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency and others working to keep families together and avoid placements in care. Paul McDonald Deb Tsorbaris Dr Lisa J. Griffiths Heidi Tucker Harriet Shing Simon Newport Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria