Published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies
ISSN 1447-0039 (Print); 1447-0047 (Online)
Clearinghouse Coordinator : Judy Adams
Newsletter compiled by Katie Kovacs
Contact the Australian Institute of Family Studies for a copy of this newsletter, or access articles as listed below in HTML or PDF format. The full newsletter can be downloaded in PDF format (529K) or in sections as listed below. You will need an Acrobat Reader which is free from the Adobe Systems Web site.
In this Issue
The 8th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Steps Forward for Families: Research, Practice and Policy, was held in Melbourne on 12-14 February 2003. The aim of the conference was to bring together research on a wide range of family issues, and many of the papers and conference sessions were at the intersection of research, policy and practice.
The conference was formally opened by the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Amanda Vanstone, via a video linkup. The Hon. Larry Anthony, Minister for Children and Youth, then gave a brief outline of government interest in family-related matters, emphasising the importance of early intervention and of children getting a good start in life.
In recent years, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has dedicated increased resources to research on the family as the natural environment for the growth and wellbeing of children, and on the role governments play in supporting parents by providing both material assistance and support programs. In keeping with this broad direction, a number of conference papers focused on the lives of children in their family and community contexts.
However, in addition to a range of papers focused on children, parenting and the provision of support to children and families, a number of sessions were developed to explore elements of child protection and child abuse prevention, domestic violence, sexual assault and associated issues. The increasing professional and societal interest in the various forms of family violence is reflected in the expansion of Institute research in the area, particularly through the operation of the National Child Protection Clearinghouse.
Individual papers explored a range of specific forms of violence, such as adult sexual assault by intimate partners, family homicide, the abuse of children by women, and the abuse of animals. Some key issues likely to dominate family violence research, policy and practice issues over the next few years were also identified.
The first issue relates to a growing recognition that one form of family violence often does not occur in isolation. That is, there is a link between the different forms of family violence. This is perhaps clearest when looking at the association between the co-occurrence of different forms of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence (that is, the violence between intimate partners). A symposium of papers led by researchers from the University of Sydney explored this association, with Jude Irwin, Fran Waugh and Marie Wilkinson reporting on a recently completed study of the NSW Department of Community Services' response to domestic violence, and policy and practice issues related to the protection of children and young people who live with domestic violence.
The recent recognition of a relationship between the perpetration of various forms of family violence and the abuse of domestic pets was highlighted in a paper by Eleonora Gullone and colleagues from Monash University. Their study replicated US studies and brought home the horrendous nature of violence towards pets within a context of wider family violence.
The second issue concerned developments in research and practice. Presentations were given on current child protection practice, particularly as it relates to children living with domestic violence, and on the sexual assault of children. Robyn Sullivan, the Queensland Commissioner for Children, chaired a symposium on the roles and functions of the Queensland Commission for Children and Young People.
The Commission's use of evidence-based practice to inform government and the professional sector was highlighted. Presenters reflected on the Commission's work in engaging with children and young people - the importance of 'hearing children's voices' - particularly in the development of policy initiatives that inform the Commission's work.
The shift from (purely) preventing risks or social ills towards the creation of family and community capacity or resilience is now a dominant trend in policy and practice. The impact of this transition on government policy, research and the changing nature of family support work was explored in a number of sessions at the Conference.
The current cornerstone of the Commonwealth's policies to support and strengthen Australian families and communities is the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. Launched in April 2000, the Strategy takes a prevention and early intervention approach. It aims to help families and communities by building resilience and a capacity to manage problems before they become severe. Hence, the Strategy reflects the current shift towards a capacity building, rather than risk prevention, approach to family violence issues.
Libby Davies, Executive Director of the peak agency Family Services Australia, discussed some of the challenges for service delivery in this changing policy environment. Anita Joinking and Marie Leech from Mission Australia described some of the trends in family demographics, workers' perceptions of the main issues in strengthening families, and some of the key family strengths that should be reinforced when attempting to develop families' resilience.
The Institute's role in conducting research allied to the Stronger Families and Community Strategy came to the fore via two sessions that highlighted the innovative work of the Stronger Families Learning Exchange (SFLEX). A major component of the Learning Exchange is the creation of a Training and Support Team of researchers who provide action research evaluation support to 40 community development projects. The Team is funded under the Stronger Families Fund, which is part of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy.
The Team assists projects to design and carry out an action research evaluation of their project, providing advice and support on issues such as: action research processes; research design and methods; the analysis and interpretation of data; and the production of project reports. In the longer term, the project will generate national data (via the Institute) on effective practice and early intervention strategies. The results will inform Government policy, community development and service delivery, and research practices.
A SFLEX symposium outlined how the Commonwealth's vision of research support for a range of community development projects located across the nation is in the process of being translated by the research team into broader learning outcomes that can inform policy. Leah Anderson, from the Connecting Families project, Wagga Wagga NSW, presented a case study that demonstrated how the relationship between funders (FaCS), research support (SFLEX) and a funded project had developed, resulting in significant benefits at the local (project and community) level. The specifics of providing action research support were further delineated by Kelley Johnson (SFLEX Team leader) and Lisa Natoli via the presentation of a workshop on action research processes. This session provided the audience with an opportunity to hear of the research team's experiences in working with a range of projects, at times within a government bureaucratic context, and to workshop issues of research practice.
A full list of papers presented at the conference can be either viewed or downloaded through the Institute's website at www.aifs.gov.au. The following is a selection of abstracts from the papers presented.
Institutional processes for dealing with allegations
of child sexual abuse
Tom Altobelli
School of Law, University of Western Sydney
Institutional processes for dealing with allegations of child sexual abuse, such as the Catholic Church's Towards Healing statement, fail to recognise that the public has a legitimate interest in ensuring that the processes used to investigate complaints and offer assistance to victims are transparent, rigorous and accountable. These institutional processes inadequately balance the public interest with the private interests belonging to the stakeholders in these claims.
The need for confidentiality that is invoked in seeking to protect private interests directly undermines public confidence in the process. Greater recognition needs to be given by institutions to the legitimacy of the public interest, and this legitimacy needs to be reflected in the processes used. The role of such processes in educating the public and thus having a preventative function needs also to be recognised. At the same time the public needs to recognise the legitimacy of claims by stakeholders to use confidential processes until clear findings have been made in relation to allegations. The paper will suggest a new model for dealing with claims within institutions arising out of allegations of sexual abuse that moves closer to finding that elusive balance between the public and private interests. (Full paper available)
Permanency planning beyond care: the attachment
needs of young people leaving care
Judy Cashmore and Marina Paxman
Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales
Finding and maintaining a safe, secure and stable placement for children and young people in out-of-home care is recognised as a critical issue in out-of-home care because of the adverse outcomes associated with lack of stability and drift in care. Permanency planning includes a range of policy and practice approaches to try to maximise stability and continuity. This paper provides a review and critique of these approaches in Australia and elsewhere, and the implications from attachment theory. It also draws upon data from the five-year follow-up to the longitudinal study of Wards Leaving Care study in New South Wales, funded by the NSW Department of Community Services. The young people who have fared best are those who had some stability in care and the support of a carer, family member or community support worker after leaving care, but the young people's perceptions of their security during childhood and in care are better predictors of their 'resilience' than stability per se.
'Good enough parenting': when government is the parent?
Mike Clare
University of Western Australia
The paper reviews the introduction of the UK Looking After Children practice and management materials in Australian States and Territories against the background of a comparative analysis of central government systems to prescribe standards of service and to monitor outcomes for children in care in the UK. The writer argues that the UK government commitment to a 'whole of government' interventionist set of activities is significantly more useful in driving child welfare initiatives than the more fragmented and secretive systems in Australian States. The measures include inspections of agencies, quality assurance processes and performance standards. Finally, the writer reviews some international LAC projects and reviews successful elements of implementation strategies. (Full paper available)
The violence of women: making sense of child abuse
perpetrated by mothers
Lee FitzRoy
RMIT University
Women perpetrating violence against a beloved child, is a 'disgrace' hidden in the private realm of the home and/or publicly denounced as a crime of unnatural evil. Images of women hurting their children transfix and horrify the general community. These extreme social reactions emerge in part as a response to a construction of 'woman' as 'mother', the origin of life juxtaposed with the image of the 'bad' mother. The paper explores the contradictory constructions of 'woman' and 'mothering', combined with the often inconsistent social responses to, and theoretical analyses of, women who perpetrate violence. A critical examination of possible reasons why mothers perpetrate violence against their children is presented. The study primarily focuses on women's use of physical violence against their children; however, categories and definitions of 'violence' per se are not fixed or definitive. Therefore, the paper acknowledges that a focus on physical violence does not preclude a critical examination of other acts of emotional/psychological, sexual, social and/or financial violence perpetrated by women.
The broad aim of my research is to contribute to the current body of knowledge, which explores women's diverse and contradictory experiences as both victims/offenders. In undertaking the study, I believe that a detailed examination of women's use of violence may assist women themselves in their own choices and actions. In addition, it is hoped that such explorations may aid practitioners and the human service, child protection and criminal justice systems, which respond to women and their children. (Full paper available)
The co-occurrence of family violence and animal abuse:
a comparison of violent and non-violent families
Eleonora Gullone, Anne Volant and Judy Johnson
Monash University
Over the last decade, professionals have become increasingly aware of a link between violence toward humans and animal cruelty. This link calls for a combined response by animal welfare organisations, law enforcement agencies and health care professionals. Such a response is increasingly being adopted in the US and the UK, but the need has only recently been recognised in Australia. Identification of animal cruelty may provide important information about family violence. The present investigation is the first of its kind in Australia. The aims of the study were primarily to determine the degree of co-occurrence of family violence and pet (companion animal) abuse in an Australian context. Secondly, cooccurrence rates between a randomly selected community sample and a representative Victorian sample recruited from family violence support organisations were compared. Participants included over 100 women who had in the past or were currently involved in a violent relationship, and a comparison group of women who had not in the past nor were currently involved in a violent family situation. The results of the study, which were very consistent with past research in other countries, were presented along with their implications.
Paying for care: the state of affairs in fostering
Marilyn McHugh
Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales
The trend in a number of Western countries is to pay foster carers a fee or retainer in addition to reimbursements for the costs of the child in their care. There are also a small but growing number of commercial foster care agencies who contract to governments to provide foster care services. The notion of 'paying for caring work' has received a good deal of attention in literature by feminist economists who distinguish between caring as a 'labour of love' and caring as unpaid work. The notion of paying foster carers for the work they do is quite contentious within the industry. Carers themselves are quite divided about the concept of being paid a salary or wage, with many arguing 'we don't do it for the money'.
In Australia and overseas the literature on current family foster care highlights the 'crisis' in foster care. Research indicates that the number of children requiring alternative care is on the increase in many countries, and of concern is the difficulty experienced by agencies in recruiting and retaining suitable carers and preventing placement breakdown. With the growing participation of women in paid work, particularly those with children (the 'typical' foster carer), the question arises 'who will do the caring' and, more cogently, 'how will the costs of caring be met'?
This paper overviews some of the current trends here and overseas in paying carers a fee or retainer in addition to reimbursements for costs. It discusses the merits of these programs and their applicability to Australia within the context of feminist economics.
Evaluating the Columbus Pilot in the Family Court of
Western Australia
Paul Murphy and Lisbeth Pike
Family Court of Western Australia
The evaluation of the Columbus Pilot is being conducted by a collaborative team from The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University. The evaluation is using a multi-method approach within the Stufflebeam CIPP (Context, Inputs, Process and Product) model of program evaluation. In addition to the qualitative data obtained during in-depth interviews with a range of key stakeholders, the project is 'mapping' cases within the Columbus Pilot and comparing these with a 'Control' sample, some long-term cases (a 'Comparison group'), and the 'ideal' Columbus process - the 'Design'. The mapping process also allows estimates of imputed 'case costs' to be established so that the cost of intensive early intervention can be assessed against the costs of lengthy litigation. This paper reports some of the preliminary findings and the impact this project is having on the culture of the Family Court of Western Australia. The paper also outlines the next two stages in the evaluation project. (Full paper available)
Childhood adversity and abuse and mental health in adult life
Bryan Rodgers, Kelly Blewitt, Patricia Jacomb and
Stephen Rosenman
Centre for Mental Health Research
There is research evidence that early adversity and abuse have enduring consequences extending into adult life, in addition to their immediate effects on children. These consequences are particularly apparent for mental health problems. However, most studies in this field employ single measures of childhood adversity and outcome. Little is known about multiple risk.
The study aimed to (1) delineate associations between indices of childhood family adversity and depression, anxiety and substance use in adulthood; (2) assess the cumulative nature of risk; (3) identify types of adversity making unique contributions to outcomes.
Cross-sectional surveys of 7500 community participants aged 20-24, 40-44 and 60-64 years in the ACT Region were carried out. Data were collected by handheld computers, with retrospective reporting of childhood adversity. Types of childhood adversity varied in prevalence from less than 1% (parental sexual abuse) to over 20% (mother's depression). Multiple adversity occurred more often than expected by chance. In the 20-24 group, for example, 34.3% reported three or four types of adversity and 9.1% reported five or more types. Adult depression, particularly, showed a marked increase in prevalence with cumulative adversity - a sixfold increase in risk from zero to high adversity. A lesser twofold increase in risk was found for drinking. Some forms of adversity make unique contributions to predicting outcomes.
There is evidence that cumulative adversity is deleterious for adult mental health and that some individual types of adversity are especially linked to later risk. (Full paper available)
Factors affecting families' access to child abuse prevention
programs: an exploratory study
Janet Stanley and Katie Kovacs
National Child Protection Clearinghouse
There is little documented information about how families locate, gain access to, and use child abuse prevention programs. In order to address this knowledge gap, the National Child Protection Clearinghouse has undertaken exploratory research to gain further understanding about issues around how families with a child at risk of being maltreated avail themselves of programs designed to prevent this maltreatment.
Information was sought from a sample of 32 practitioners currently running home visiting and parent education programs in New South Wales and Victoria. Self-completed questionnaires and structured interviews were used to provide information on the nature of the projects, neighbourhood characteristics, recruitment processes and methods of program implementation that, it was hypothesised, could impact on how clients availed themselves, engaged with and used programs.
Results suggest that a number of well-planned programs exist which effectively link parents into a network of services and provide therapeutic support for the children. However, various barriers continue to restrict access by some families to these services.
The paper outlines practical outcomes which may assist service providers to further refine and develop programs that target, engage, and have the best possible impact on the group of 'high risk' families most in need of support, thus providing a more efficient and cost-effective service. The findings also have implications for future policy development in relation to prevention programs. (Full paper available)
Are we meeting family needs in Australia?
Adam Tomison
National Child Protection Clearinghouse
The increasing expansion and identification of social ills or issues (e.g. child abuse and parenting problems, youth suicide, bullying, domestic violence, substance abuse, relationship breakdown etc.), combined with a greater focus on the quality of family life and the health and wellbeing of family members, has produced significant demand by families and communities for support from governments and professional agencies. This has occurred as traditional forms of support provided by extended family and/or friends and neighbours have been decreasing.
The last decade has seen a reinvestment in a rapidly changing family support sector, and the growing recognition of the need to work strategically to ensure the best response for families and improved societal health and wellbeing. But are we - or, more specifically, the family support system - meeting family needs in Australia? Do our current approaches work and, if so, how do we know? And what is good practice in supporting families?
One of the substantial problems in determining if support is successful is that, in general, the service sector and policymakers lack good evidence of the interventions that can produce a significant change in family or community health and wellbeing. That is, we don't really know what interventions or programs work, or under what circumstances and for whom. This paper discusses the benefits of adopting an evidence-based practice approach to service provision, and provides a brief overview of some of the current trends that have been developed to meet identified needs. A number of promising areas that would benefit from further exploration are also noted. (Full paper available)
Safety planning - children and young people who live with
domestic violence
Fran Waugh and Michelle Bonner
University of Sydney
A number of government and non-government agencies across NSW, including family support, community health, legal services, NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) and housing services, are involved on a daily basis in working with the issues of domestic violence and child protection. For practitioners in this field, safety planning is a key element in their interventions with women and children experiencing domestic violence. However, practitioners have often addressed domestic violence and child protection as separate issues resulting in intervention focusing on the safety of the women while overlooking the safety of their children. This paper explores the issues of developing safety plans for children and young people in domestic violence situations as identified in focus groups and interviews conducted with practitioners in NSW in 2001. For some agencies these strategies ranged from making a report to DoCS about the domestic violence, to involving children and young people in developing their own safety plans. Other agencies, in comparison, had minimal or no direct intervention with children and young people and instead focused on the mothers' needs. The strategies that were developed were greatly influenced by legislation, the agency philosophy and policies, and practitioners' understanding of domestic violence and child protection. (Full paper available)
In August 2002, a report entitled Domestic Violence and Child Protection was released by the University of Sydney. The report makes a valuable and detailed contribution to knowledge about the experiences of women and children who have survived domestic violence, as well as the attitudes and decision-making practices of practitioners.
The report aimed to examine practitioners' knowledge and understanding of domestic violence and child protection; to review child protection strategies utilised by practitioners; to explore the needs of women and children who have lived with domestic violence; and to develop effective strategies which could be used to respond to these needs by means of a template of good practice.
The report presents the findings of four independent but related studies which were conducted between 1997-2001 by the Department of Social Work and Policy Studies at the University of Sydney in collaboration with Barnardos Australia. The collaboration aimed to address the gap that is often present between research and practice. The NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) contributed financially to the first study.
The collaboration allowed for different perspectives to be gained about issues that arise when dealing with domestic violence where children are involved. Taken as a whole, this report provides a comprehensive picture of the situation in NSW, and offers recommendations for good practice at the individual, agency and interagency levels which could be extended to other States and Territories.
Study 1: Domestic violence and child protection - the practice and policy context in the Department of Community Services (DoCS)
One of the key issues in the area of child protection and domestic violence is the way in which child protection authorities respond to cases of domestic violence where children are involved. The first study comprised an analysis of statutory responses to domestic violence based on observation of intake practices in five DoCS offices. This involved data collection of all child abuse intake referrals to the Department; in-depth interviews with intake workers and assistant managers to explore practices surrounding intake; and the tracking of a percentage of referrals over an 18-month period.
It was found that domestic violence was the most common reason for a child to be referred to DoCS. Even in cases where domestic violence was not the primary reported concern, it was often the reason for subsequent re-referrals. However, domestic violence-related child protection referrals were found to be less likely than other child abuse notifications to undergo an investigative assessment. Where these did occur, the most common outcome was either referral or closure, with little follow-up of cases referred to other agencies.
The inclusion of 'exposure to domestic violence' as a category of child abuse in NSW has occurred in response to growing recognition of its impact as a category of emotional abuse. However, the current report suggests that the change has been administrative only. Little attention has been given to how these changes should translate into child protection practice, and many workers feel under-equipped to deal with domestic violence as a child protection issue.
Further, the demands of dealing with incoming calls and often irate people, in combination with insufficient staffing levels, have their toll on the capacity of intake workers to take on domestic violence referrals. Intake workers interviewed for the study exhibited different understandings about domestic violence, its indicators and impact on children.
Study 2: Practitioners speak about domestic violence and child protection
The second study aimed to obtain practitioners' views about practice, policy and research issues faced by workers when intervening in the lives of women and children who experience domestic violence. The study involved twenty-one focus group interviews with (153) practitioners from statutory and non-statutory organisations. Focus groups were run in both rural and urban NSW and were attended by practitioners from family support services, refuges, courts, police, health, DoCS, preschools, Indigenous services and workers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The study's findings support what is generally known: that practitioners acknowledge the importance of interagency collaboration, but find it difficult to achieve in practice. The study also supports anecdotal knowledge that a lack of resources available for women and children can affect the capacity of women to ensure the safety of their children. Police expressed concerns that mandatory reporting requirements eroded mothers' trust and their willingness to contact police.
Practitioners commented on the fact that definitions of domestic violence varied between agencies. They expressed a desire to see research in this area focus attention on practice issues and strategies, and saw a need for locally-developed and culturallydiverse public education campaigns to assist in increasing community awareness about the issues confronting women and children who live with domestic violence. Practitioners also expressed concerns about the way in which culturally and lingually diverse groups were often treated as homogenous groups, with their individual needs and values frequently not considered. The evaluation of services for women and children was viewed as essential by all practitioners.
Study 3: Women speak about children and domestic violence
The third study carried out in-depth interviews with 41 women aged 24-47 who had lived with domestic violence. The study asked the women to reflect on how the violence had affected their children; how they had aimed to protect their children; and the supports they would consider helpful to enhance their children's capacity to deal with the violence.
It was found that mothers believed that the impact on their children of living with domestic violence included increases in aggressive behaviour, depression, suicidal thoughts, slower school progress, lower self-confidence and strained relationships amongst siblings and between children and their mother. Further, some women noted that living with violence had diminished their capacity to care for their children, and many identified the importance of support from friends and family.
With regard to formal support from services, some women commented on their usefulness, while others mentioned that a lack of information about the availability of formal support services was an issue for them. Women isolated from both informal and formal supports found it the most difficult to care for their children.
Women also commented on the lack of specialist services available to support children and young people who live with violence, and that most generalist services did not address the issue of family violence. Indigenous women expressed their lack of trust in the ability of services to meet their needs, and fear of child removal by statutory workers was mentioned as a factor which prevented them disclosing the violence. Anumber of women commented that they felt they had been treated as being responsible for the violence perpetrated against them, and some also felt responsible for not protecting their children. However, women also talked about the many ways in which they aimed to protect their children from the violence.
Some women experienced an increased risk of violence when they departed from the violent relationship. Many women talked about the difficulties associated with their children maintaining contact with their fathers, especially when their expartner undermined the mother's relationship with the children. Also mentioned was a lack of safe and suitable locations for children to be picked up and dropped off for contact visits. While some women supported their children's wish to maintain a relationship with their father, others talked about the Family Court tending to ignore the presence of child abuse which, they believed, sometimes compromised their children's safety.
Study 4: Children and young people speak about domestic violence
Interviews were conducted with 17 children and young people aged 8-18, in order to explore their experiences, sources of support and the services they considered helpful in supporting both themselves and their mothers.
The children and young people interviewed had been subject to a range of violence, which included being exposed to violence against their mother and being abused themselves. Many of the young people talked about trying to intervene during physical and violent incidents between their mother and her partner, including physically trying to stop the violence, distracting the perpetrator, fleeing for help or calling police.
Younger children described even extreme violence as an 'argument' and talked about wanting the 'arguments' to stop. They were also less comfortable than older children in speaking about the violence outside the family. Many considered that their fathers should stop being violent and their mothers should leave. Younger children also felt that they had no power to stop the violence. Their mothers' decisions to leave the violent relationships were often complicated by a range of complex factors including social, economic and cultural issues. Children expressed the need for parents to talk to them about the violence and that children should not 'blame' themselves. Children felt that when they asked other adults questions about the violence, it was normalised.
Children and young people had developed a range of coping strategies including seeking social support (including their mothers') and becoming involved in a range of academic, social and sporting activities. Several children and young people expressed concerns about the limited supports available for their mothers. The findings of this study support the theory of parentification, where young people take on additional responsibilities in the absence of appropriate support for their mothers.
Children also stressed the importance of being believed and having their views sought and taken into account for developing trust in practitioners. They had positive things to say about the professionals that had assisted them including teachers, police, counsellors and DoCS workers. An important message gained by children from professionals was the feeling that they were not to blame for the violence.
The report concluded with some objectives and guidelines for good practice for those who work in the domestic violence and child protection sectors.
Individual practitioners
The report recommended further development and enhancement of knowledge for practitioners about domestic violence and its implications for child protection practice. It also recommended that all practitioners become familiar with relevant legislation and legal reporting responsibilities, and take seriously and believe in the stories of abuse told by children and women. Workers were also advised to develop skills in risk assessment for women and children, and to assist in the development of safety plans. Practitioners were encouraged to develop knowledge of resources and sources of referral in the area, in addition to knowledge about agency policies, practice protocols and interagency agreements.
Agencies
The report suggests that agencies need to recognise the extent to which domestic violence is prevalent in families, and to develop policies and protocols for how workers are to deal with cases of domestic violence where children are involved. It is recommended that agencies ensure that the services provided are accessible to the women and children they are targeting. Practitioners should be provided with opportunities for professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills in the area of domestic violence and child protection. Agencies are also advised to develop policies for worker safety.
Interagency collaboration
The report suggests that agencies need to increase their efforts to network with other agencies, in order to develop agreements as to their particular roles and responsibilities. It is suggested that interagency training and professional development programs are formed. Agencies are encouraged to initiate locally-developed community education programs to increase awareness of domestic violence and its implications for children, while also addressing specific local concerns about domestic violence and children.
The Domestic Violence and Child Protection report makes a valuable contribution to knowledge about the issues that arise where domestic violence occurs where children are involved. While only the key issues have been identified here, the report discusses a number of these aspects in greater detail. The interviews with women and children who have lived with domestic violence, give a voice to their experiences which allows for a better understanding of the impact of violence on their lives. Acopy of the report can be obtained from Rages Palanisamy, School of Social Work and Policy Studies, University of Sydney, email: rages@social.usyd.edu.au or phone 02 93514038 Cost $30.00
The Emergency Accommodation and Support Enterprise (EASE), based in Bendigo, Victoria, is a communitymanaged organisation which provides support and accommodation to women (and their children) escaping domestic violence; young women who are pregnant or parenting; and women with alcohol and drug problems. Since 1997 EASE has extended its work to include the prevention of violence in the community through the development of the school-based program Solving the Jigsaw.
Solving the Jigsaw was introduced by EASE in recognition of the serious impact on children of their exposure to domestic violence in the home, and the knowledge that its existing service was only reaching a small number of these children. By introducing a program into schools, it was thought that a large number of children who might be exposed to domestic violence could be reached, offering an opportune point of intervention to break the intergenerational cycle of violence.
The Solving the Jigsaw project aims to increase the feeling of safety and 'culture of well-being' of children by building optimism and resilience in students and parents. It also aims to create a safe environment where open dialogue and discussions about challenging topics can take place. The project aims to assist children to develop skills in conflict resolution, assertive communication, decision-making and anger management, while also promoting positive regard between students, teachers, parents and external support services.
In order to gauge interest in the project, EASE initially approached eight primary and secondary schools in Bendigo and the surrounding rural areas. The brief listed the proposed key issues, topics and objectives of the project, as well as outlining some of the possible ways in which the project could be integrated into the school timetable.
The detail contained in the brief was intentionally minimal to give a quick overview of the project but also to allow for participating schools to be involved in a consultation process to fine-tune the content and process of implementation into their curriculum.
A Reference Committee was also set up which consisted of representatives from EASE, the schools, parents and services in the region. Once the program was operating, the Committee met bi-monthly. It provided a forum for dialogue between EASE and the schools, and allowed for decisions to be reached regarding implementation processes, age levels to be targeted, and the nature of parental and community involvement in the program. It also enabled any operational and staffing issues to be addressed, and for project outcomes to be monitored.
The response to the project was extremely positive, with six out of the eight schools sent the brief expressing interest in being involved. EASE then made an application to Youth Services for funding of $50, 000, but only obtained $20, 000. Consequently, the program was initially run in only two schools. Athird school decided to participate in the project and sought funding from a Department of Human Services Grant. There are currently 40 schools participating in the project.
In years 5-8 all students participate in Solving the Jigsaw through classroom activities. Some of the topics covered include feelings and emotions, power balance in relationships, bullying, getting to know yourself and depression and support systems. An example of an activity used under the theme of 'feeling and emotions' is the animal activity outlined in Supporting Children and Young People Affected by Family Violence (Silver 1999).
Five sheets of butchers paper are pinned around the classroom headed with the names of five animals: lion, owl, turtle, shark and teddy bear. The facilitator suggests some qualities for each animal, for example, lions are associated with strength and protection of family while owls are associated with wisdom and negotiation. After this introduction, students are asked to go to the animal they feel typifies their personality and, when they are positioned, each group is asked to write down as many qualities as possible about their chosen animal. The groups have their own discussion about these qualities and then report back to the whole group.
Once this activity is completed, the facilitator reads or acts out some scenarios. For example: (Silver 1999)
Dad comes home from work in a bad mood, it's been a hard day at work. Dad becomes unhappy about not being able to find a bottle opener. He rants and raves then upends the contents of a kitchen drawer.
The students are asked to go to the animal that best describes their likely reactions to the situation and have a short group discussion. After this, they go to the animal that best describes the dad's behaviour. This is repeated with another three scenarios. Students are then given an individual work sheet containing blank spaces for two lists: one for their feelings and behaviours that they like; and one for the feeling and behaviours they feel they currently have. They are asked to fill out a section which requires associating family members, famous people and others with the five animals. Finally they are asked to list one positive feeling or behaviour to practice in the coming week.
In 2002 some school clusters began working together to provide the Solving the Jigsaw program to all their students at years 5-7. Each student participates in 60 weeks of the program over three years. Students participate in a 20-week program in each of years 5, 6 and 7.
The cluster model means that:
Solving the Jigsaw also provides smaller groups for older students (years 8-10). These operate as single-sex groups targeted to those students 'at risk', with each school deciding which students to invite to the sessions. It was found that the 'at risk' students and parents were more likely to participate in the program if they were contacted directly by the school rather than by the external project facilitators.
Alongside student groups, the project runs parent support sessions which cover many of the activities and issues raised in the student sessions. In this way, parents gain insights into the young people's program and have an opportunity to discuss the program activities with their children. Other topics covered in the parent support sessions include: understanding adolescence; different styles of parenting; conflict resolution; building confidence in parenting; personal development; and self-esteem.
The long-term aim of the project is to create opportunity for all schools to have a program like Solving the Jigsaw. Consequently, the need to train facilitators both within the region as well as in other regions has become a project focus. Funding from the William Buckland Foundation and the R.E. Ross Trust in 2001 has enabled the development of a competencybased training package aimed at professionals. The 12-month training program involves weekly participation in two onehour classroom sessions in schools, and a weekly 3.5-hour experiential training session, which focuses on the program's activities and the Solving the Jigsaw 'ways of working' with children and young people.
Information about the project has been documented in the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence document, Supporting Children and Young People Affected by Family Violence (Silver 1999). This report contains information about an evaluation which analysed student, parent, teacher and facilitator responses to the program through questionnaires.
Positive outcomes for students were recorded in areas such recognising and naming behaviours, increased self-knowledge and optimism, skills in mediation and conflict resolution, assertive communication, anger management and understanding, and taking constructive action over issues relating to violence. Links were also made between parents and schools, and parent behaviours were reported to be positively changed.
The evaluation highlighted a number of positive aspects of the project including the importance of using a collaborative approach between the domestic violence organisation and school communities. EASE was aware that in order for the project to be effective, it could not be imposed on school communities. It was also important that the expertise of school staff be utilised in determining the program content. This collaboration was seen as a real strength of the project as it resulted in the schools involved being linked to outside agencies and receiving access to the specialist knowledge of staff working in the family violence sector.
Another positive aspect of the project is its long-term nature. This was considered essential to establishing a trusting relationship between the facilitator and the students, and enabled the creation of an intimate and secure environment where sensitive and personal issues could be discussed. The involvement of parents in the project both formally, in conjunction with targeted programs for the 'at risk' students, or informally, through involvement with student homework tasks or through the regular newsletter, was also seen as a positive element of the project.
The project found the use of co-facilitation extremely beneficial. Project workers took a central role in the development of resources and operational aspects, but classroom teachers were invited to participate as well. Teachers began by playing a fairly minimal role, but within a few weeks became more involved and provided assistance during the group work sessions, in particular.
Solving the Jigsaw has been embraced by school communities in the Loddon Mallee Region. Due to its perceived success, an increasing number of schools in the area have asked EASE to run Solving the Jigsaw in their schools. Commitment of schools to the project is evidenced by the fact that the schools themselves contribute significantly (60%) to program funding, and the Loddon Mallee Department of Education and Training further provided support to teachers to undertake the Solving the Jigsaw facilitator training course. The project also receives funding support from the Victorian Department of Human Services, R.E. Ross Trust and The William Buckland Foundation.
The Solving the Jigsaw program has been acknowledged for good practice through many awards including the Australian Violence Prevention Award, The National Australian Drug Foundation Award, Victorian Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award, National Association for Loss and Grief Award and the Victorian Public Health Award.
For more information about this project, a copy of the report Supporting Children and Young People Affected by Family Violence can be downloaded from www.padv.dpmc.gov.au/ publications/publicat.htm
DR TESS RIDGE, Lecturer in Social and Policy Science, University of Bath, United Kingdom is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Her research focuses on child poverty and social exclusion. Dr Janet Stanley, Senior Research Officer at the National Child Protection Clearinghouse takes the opportunity to ask her some questions about her work.
Can you tell me the purpose of your visit?
I'm here to conduct some comparative research between the UK and Australia. I am chiefly interested in how the state in each country has supported children and their families through the tax and benefit system, and through measures such as the Child Support Scheme.
I try to look at issues that relate to children from what is called a child-centred perspective. This means that I try to put the interests and concerns of the child central to any research and analysis I might undertake. I am particularly interested in children's experiences of poverty and social exclusion in childhood. Using child-centred methods means talking to low-income and disadvantaged children and listening to their experiences and the issues that matter to them. This provides an opportunity to explore some of the social processes and the relational dynamics that lie behind statistical data. In the past adults have often been used as proxies for children, to speak about the children's lives and experiences. However, children's perceptions can differ from adults. Adults views of children and children's views of themselves can differ greatly. For example, issues perceived by adults as relevant to children might not be those identified by the children themselves. Using child-centred research and inquiry means that we gain a richer and more informed understanding of children and their lives.
How is your work relevant to the child welfare, and particularly the child protection fields?
I do not work directly in a child protection field, but my research does have some important relevance to the broader field of child protection work. My most recent study involved in-depth interviews with 40 children who were living in families that were poor. The study focused very much on children's everyday lives and experiences and was, above all, open to incorporating issues that children identified as important. The interviews explored children's experiences at school, at home and with their families, and it focused on their economic and material environment, their social relationships and their own understandings of the impact poverty has made on their lives. The findings showed that the experience of poverty had permeated every area of these children's lives. In particular, children were very fearful that they would be seen as different or isolated in any way from their peers. They were worried about the stigma associated with being poor in an affluent society, and they were concerned that they were not able to participate and enjoy the opportunities available to more affluent children.
School was singled out by children as an area where they felt they were not easily able to share in the accepted social and academic opportunities. Children reported that they were unable to go on school trips, were concerned about not being able to afford school books, appropriate school clothes and uniforms, and materials for exams. Children, especially girls, were also struggling to protect their parents from realising how badly poverty was affecting their lives, and they did this through self denial of needs and wants and through excluding themselves from school and leisure activities they thought their parents would not be able to afford. The research provides a better understanding of the everyday challenges that poor children face in their lives, and presents an opportunity to develop policies which can address some of the issues that children themselves identify as important for their lives and well-being.
What is your view on the association between children living in poverty and child abuse and neglect?
Most of the research I have done has found no clear link between children living in poverty and children experiencing abuse and neglect. In the UK there are several million children living below the poverty line and in general their parent or parents are struggling hard to manage on insufficient resources while protecting their children from the worst effects of their poverty. Children in my studies have tended to show great tenderness and concern for their parents and great resilience in the face of extremely challenging circumstances. One thing that many children are fearful of is the public perception linking them as poor and abused children. This is a powerful stereotype, which has a damaging impact on these children's lives. I think it is important to realise that there is no homogeneous group of poor children. They are very diverse, and experience different cultural, social and familial lives. Some of these children will, of course, be experiencing abuse and neglect, but many more will not.
Your work seems to be grounded in a strong children's rights philosophy. Is this a common stance in the UK, or is your work unique?
The movement for children's rights is gaining in strength across the world. In the UK children's rights is an important issue, but in general there has tended to be little research that has directly engaged with children and tried to understand different issues from a child-centred perspective. In that respect, particularly in relation to children in poverty, my work is at present relatively unique. However, there is a growing interest in understanding children's lives, and the government in the UK has started to engage with children in consultation exercises in a range of areas including the public care system. This is an important step forward for children's rights and interests in the UK.
In your short time in Australia, have you formed any view as to whether children are being placed in a more central position in child welfare practice in the UK or Australia?
I have found it very interesting to look at the Australian welfare system from a child-centred perspective. You do have some important developments including Children's Commissioners and a fairly sound social transfer system. However, as it has been in the UK, it appears that children themselves are not really being engaged yet in a productive way in much of the policy and practice that affects them. In the UK there has been a considerable policy effort directed towards children which was launched to fulfil Tony Blair's pledge to eradicate child poverty in 20 years. This has meant that children have moved from the periphery to the centre of the policy agenda and this has resulted in an increased interest in the well-being of children and a major redistribution of resources towards them. Asignificant policy push such as this provides an opportunity to open the debate about children and develop new ways of thinking about them and working with them. An important part of this process has been the acknowledgement that children themselves have something valuable to contribute.
Can you outline what you believe are currently the major issues for children in the UK and globally?
I think child poverty is the major issue for children in the UK as well as on a global scale. Children always bear the brunt of economic and social changes. And whilst much of our concern has traditionally been on child poverty outcomes and the impact of poverty on the adult the child will become, I think we need to direct our attention much more closely to addressing children's experiences in the immediacy of childhood.
In Australia, researchers tend to avoid undertaking research directly with children because of the difficulties associated with, and length of time involved in, gaining permission to interview children. These difficulties are particularly associated with research ethics committees. Is this a factor in the UK?
Child-centred research is challenging. It raises practical and methodological issues about establishing trust and rapport but also, in acknowledging and addressing ethical considerations, issues of power and control and, of course, more practical issues of gaining access and ensuring informed consent. Even so, I think it is essential that we start to take time to listen to children. In the UK there are ethics committees, but mainly in the area of psychology. In my own practice I use ethical research guidelines developed especially for work with children. I also try to continually reflect on my own practice. It is a difficult and challenging field, but it is also a rewarding one not just for research and practice, but also for children themselves who learn that their issues and concerns are of interest and will be listened to and respected.
Dr Tess Ridge has recently published the following work:
Ridge, T. (2003), 'Benefiting Children?: The challenge of social security support for children', in J. Millar (ed.), Understanding Social Security: Issues for Policy and Practice Bristol, Bristol: Policy Press.
Ridge, T (2002), Childhood Poverty and Social Exclusion: From a Child's Perspective, Bristol: Policy Press.
Millar, J. & Ridge, T. (2002), 'Parents, children, families and new Labour: developing family policy?', in M. Powell, Evaluating New Labour's Welfare Reforms, Bristol: Policy Press, pp.85-106.
Millar, J. & Ridge, T. (2001), Families, Poverty, Work and Care. A Review of the Literature on Lone Parents and Low-Income Couple Families with Children, Research Report No.153, Department for Work and Pensions, Leeds: Corporate Document Services.
The National Child Protection Clearinghouse welcomes contributions made by students who are studying or carrying out research in the area of child abuse prevention or child protection.If you are a student and would like to have a contribution considered for publication please contact the Clearinghouse on Ph: (03) 9214 7888.
This contribution is from DAMIEN HICKMAN. Damien Hickman is a graduate of the University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Science (Human Movement) Degree and is currently studying for the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Newcastle. He is interested in the roles men play in relationship to their children and families, as well as the design and implementation of men's support services.
Fathers play a significant role in the care and protection of their children. As part of child protection, social work practice needs constantly to adjust to the changing context of fathers in Australian families. This requires social work agencies to be aware of men's needs and their perceptions of parenting to make support services accessible and attractive to fathers. Further to this, social work agency interventions must be structured around evidence based practices that replace 'good intentions' with proven strategies. The involvement of fathers in the care and protection of their children demands that policies and programs are accessible, effective and relevant.
The importance of a father in providing childcare and protection is well documented (Biddulph 1997; Riach 1981; Sullivan 2000). If social work agencies are to support fathers in the care and protection of their children, the policies and programs implemented must be attractive to men and be based on current Australian family needs. With the use of research-based evidence to inform intervention strategies, support services can 'hit the mark' with the diversity of Australian fathers and be of the utmost effectiveness. However, it has been argued by Kruk (1994) and Sullivan (2000) that social work agencies may be off-putting for men who feel irrelevant and tokenised within support services. Alack of research into men as fathers and program compatibility makes the responsibility of addressing this issue a practice of reflective social work. A reflection on social work practices demonstrates that female perceptions of fatherhood have influenced family support services. Actively seeking male perceptions of fatherhood and their views about where they believe support is needed will produce services that are more 'male friendly' and therefore are more likely to be accessed by greater numbers of men. It is only through relevant policies and proven practices that maximum care and protection can be given to children by the most number of fathers in the wide array of Australian 'families'.
Regardless of family circumstances, a father's involvement in the care and protection of his children is a significant part of that child's development (Biddulph 1997; Sullivan 2000). Riach (1981) argued that sons need the care of a warm and nurturing father for cognitive development, sexual development, good peer relationships and feelings of self-esteem. Pre-school children of involved fathers display higher cognitive skills, empathy and reduced stereotypes. Boys behave less disruptively in school and girls have greater self-direction. Alternatively, children from abusive environments who witness domestic violence from fathers suffer fear, stress, withdrawal and increased emotional and social problems (Lamb 1997). The need for children to have emotional closeness with fathers is so strong, Biddulph (1997: 14) argued, 'If you work a fifty-five or sixty hour week, you just won't cut it as a dad'.
The challenge for social work agencies is to attract fathers to family centres where they can access support services. However, programs in family centres have been seen as female domains by fathers who need their differences as men acknowledged. Kruk (1994) argued that social work agencies were dismissive of fathers and their role with children. It was found men did not use social work services and felt shut out by a system designed to meet female needs (Kruk 1994). By developing services that appeal directly to men, social work agencies may be able to provide childcare education and skills to more fathers (Meyers 1993). However, the transfer of ideological acceptance into practical supports for fathers is low (Kruk 1994; Meyers 1993; Sullivan 2000). It was suggested by Meyers (1993) that including male discussion leaders as positive role models, weekend classes, 'male friendly' environments and being sensitive to low-income fathers were possible solutions to poor attendance by men at parenting education programs.
The impact of gender inequity in social work practice
As a profession that is predominately female, social work is influenced by gender perceptions. Attributes such as communication skills, empathy and emotional acuity are key strengths of social work practice that are stereotypically identified as female qualities. The reflective questioning of social work practice does not dismiss this but simply asks, 'Do female perceptions of fatherhood unwittingly fail to press the right buttons in fathers in parenting support policies and programs?'. Men and women through biology or conditioning perceive fatherhood differently, and it can be argued that if more men are to be attracted to programs and policy development, male perceptions of fatherhood will hold the key to greater success with men. Programs that are attractive to men enable children to enjoy greater contact, care and support from their fathers (Featherstone 2001; Meyers 1993). Reflective social work practice needs to be aware of any bias that may not derive the maximum potential of support programs and policies for Australian fathers.
In the last fifty years, single mother families and step father families have reduced the presence of biological fathers in nuclear families (Lewis & O'Brien 1987). Increasingly, a father's relationship with his children is occurring outside of the traditional 'nuclear family' (Walter 2000a). Also, growing numbers of non-custodial, single and unwed fathers add to the number of children who no longer live within a 'nuclear' situation. Despite this, evidence suggests that children need a father's positive contribution to parenting regardless of the circumstance of their relationship (Featherstone 2001; Kruk 1994; Walter 2000b). As 'family units' diversify, social policy and social work practice also need to diversify to care for children in all circumstances. Walter (2000a) found noncustodial unwed fathers do not consider their children to be their responsibility and fail to provide financial and emotional support. Therefore, all future policies and support programs must include fathers outside the nuclear family to accommodate the ever-changing context of fathers within Australian families.
Social work practice that is relevant to the needs of Australian fathers and their children must be based on ongoing research that provides evidence of what works and what does not. Evidence-based social work practices allow agencies to create policies and programs for fathers based on proven effectiveness. The danger is that strategies built on 'good intentions' can create more problems than they solve and therefore must be tested through research to substantiate any claims. Without quantifiable measurement, strategies may be implemented that cannot assert they actually enhance childcare and protection. Interventions tested through research must drive evidence-based practice to minimise the risk of physical and psychosocial harm to children and maximise the potential benefits for families involved with social work agencies.
Fathers in childcare have become a focus of social policy and the welfare agenda in contemporary Australia (Featherstone 2001; Walter 2000a). Ensuring the wellbeing of children requires an increased knowledge of Australian men in families to inform policy makers and social work practitioners of men in this role (Sullivan 2000). This way programs that are attractive and relevant to fathers can be delivered to greater numbers of men regardless of the circumstances of the relationship to their children. However, programs that specifically target men as fathers are too few, and some Australian men feel unappreciated and unsupported in their role (Truss 1998). Critical reflection of social work practices should encourage greater consultation with men to develop programs that 'press the right buttons' and increase the participation of fathers in support services. In addition, the knowledge gleaned from qualified research will create practices that are based on factual evidence and therefore make them more likely to be effective. This will allow social work agencies to expand fathering programs that involve more men so children can enjoy stronger connections with their fathers and thereby grow up in safer, more secure environments.
References
Biddulph, S. (1997), Raising Boys: Why Boys are Different - and How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men, Finch Publishing, Sydney.
Featherstone, B. (2001), 'Putting fathers on the welfare agenda', Child and Family Social Work, vol.6, pp.179-86.
Kruk, E. (1994), 'The disengaged non-custodial father: Implications for social work practice with the divorced family', Social Work, vol.39, no.1, pp.15-25.
Lamb, M.E. (1997), The Role of the Father in Child Development (3rd edn), John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Lewis, C. & O'Brien, M. (1987), Reassessing Fatherhood: New Observations on Fathers and the Modern Family, Sage Publications, London.
Meyers, S. (1993), 'Adapting parent education programs to meet the needs of fathers: An ecological perspective', Family Relations, vol.42, pp.447-52.
Riach, L. (1981), 'Father - the other partner. A survey of current knowledge', Australian Journal of Early Childhood, vol.6, no.2, pp.29-33.
Sullivan, R. & Howard, S. (2000), 'Focus on fathering. Aproject of the Children's Commission of Queensland', 7th Australian Institute of Families Studies Conference, Sydney, 24-26 July 2000 (http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/afrc7/sullivanfocus. html).
Truss, W. (1998), 'Ministers Speech', 5th Meeting of the National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Hobart, 26 February 1998 (http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/MinCS.nfs/ v1/speechfam).
Walter, M. (2000a), 'Parental involvement of unwed nonresident fathers', Family Matters, Spring/Summer, no.57, pp.34-39.
Walter, M. (2000b), 'Australian non-custodial unwed fathers: What is their level of parental involvement?', 7th Australian Institute of Families Studies Conference, Sydney, 24-26 July 2000 (http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/afrc7/walter.html).
This list was developed in response to queries from readers interested in finding out about professional development or training courses available for workers in the child protection/child welfare area. Information about these courses has been obtained from a variety of sources and was correct at the time of printing.To find out more about particular courses, please contact the respective providers. COMPILED BY KATIE KOVACS.
Managing non-compliance in children
Date: 29 May 2003
Cost: $140
Location: Melbourne
This workshop will examine issues related to etiology, assessment and family-based intervention for non-compliant behaviour in children.
Working with parents who have learning
disabilities
Date: 5 June 2003
Cost: $140
Location: Melbourne
This workshop will provide an overview of the learning needs of parents with an intellectual disability and effective intervention strategies.
Enhancing parental coping:
A cognitive approach
Date: 12 June 2003
Cost: $140
Location: Melbourne
Parents' beliefs and thought processes play an immensely important role in determining how they raise their children, and how they respond to stress associated with parenting. This workshop will provide an introduction to the cognitive model of parenting; thoughts and beliefs associated with maladaptive parenting responses; and strategies for modifying unhelpful beliefs, attitudes and thinking processes.
Creating family-friendly schools
Date: to be advised
Cost: $140
Location: Melbourne
This workshop will enhance the effectiveness of schools in supporting parents.
Safe anger release
Date: 13 May 2003 or 13 October 2003
Cost: $132 (each workshop)
Location: Melbourne
This highly experiential introductory day will model practical ways for dealing with anger.
Parenting today
Date: 22-23 May 2003 or 28-29 July 2003
Cost: $285 (each workshop)
Location: Melbourne
Sandplay and symbol work
Date: 1 August 2003
Cost: $132
Location: Melbourne
Expressive therapies with troubled youth
Date: 19 November 2003
Cost: $132
Location: Melbourne
Regional training
The CCWT is offering customised training
courses for Wagga Wagga, Orange and
Tamworth. Each workshop will last for
two days and has been scheduled in a
regional centre to give community workers
the opportunity for relevant training.
The dates for these courses are:
Wagga Wagga: 25-26 June 2003
Orange: 19-20 August 2003
Tamworth: 20-21 October 2003
To complete an expression of interest form or to give input about training topics you would like covered in these regional courses, visit our website at www.acwa. asn.au. For more information contact Michelle Grice, Training Calendar Coordinator, on (02) 9281 8822.
Child protection core training
Date: 6-8 August 2003
Cost: $300
Location: Sydney
This three-day program, designed for workers with children, young people and families, will look at both child sexual abuse (CSA) and PANOC. The course will cover: definitions, context and dynamics surrounding CSA, physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and domestic violence; indicators of abuse and abuse co-factors; potential impacts of childhood abuse, including specific impacts on a child/young person's development; child protection system responses, including mandatory reporting to DoCS and the roles and responsibilities of government and community agencies; risk of harm assessment frameworks.
Child sexual assault - core training
Date: 12-14 November 2003
Cost: $300
Location: Sydney
The issue of child sexual abuse (CSA) as a social problem and crime has been explored energetically in the research and practice contexts. CSA has also been the subject of many professional and community education activities. However, professional and community knowledge about the dynamics, nature, extent of and response to child sexual abuse is not universal. This three-day workshop will explore the core issues surrounding the sexual abuse of children. It will assist workers to fulfil the core responsibilities of recognising and reporting suspected cases of CSA and to develop strategies to respond to children and non-offending parents when sexual abuse is disclosed.
Domestic violence & child protection:
Issues and dilemmas
Date: 24-25 November 2003
Cost: $200
Location: Sydney
This workshop provides an holistic approach to responding to issues of domestic violence and child protection. In particular, case management practices will be promoted that challenge offender actions and provide for the safety and well-being of women and children. The dynamics of domestic violence will be explored and restraints theory examined in order to understand offender thinking and how this is manifested. Participants will be asked to develop case management plans that name the strategies they incorporate in their work to assist women and children to overcome the effects of abuse. Case plans will also identify how they will support and promote the safety of women and their children. The interagency context of child protection will be reinforced with the examination of a risk assessment model that underpins case management practices and decisionmaking.
'Keeping Children Safe': Train the Trainer
Dates: 19-20 May 2003 (Parramatta);
20-21 October 2003 (Liverpool)
Cost: $230 (each workshop)
This two-day training course teaches participants to run the 'Keeping Children Safe' group program effectively. Some group work skills are covered and there is an opportunity to present modules of the program to the group during the training and gain feedback. 'Keeping Children Safe' is a six-session course that discusses child protection in the context of the Children and Young Person's (Care and Protection) Act 1998. It can be used with groups or in individual counselling and guides parents in the best ways to ensure their own children remain safe. Suitable for caregivers of all ages, it examines the five types of abuse: physical, neglect, emotional, domestic violence and sexual abuse. Each session includes a positive parenting section with strategies that parents can use to develop their own behaviour management skills. Protective behaviours based on child protection material taught in public schools are also discussed.
PANOC core training
Date: 3-5 September 2003
Cost: $300
Location: Sydney
Physical abuse and neglect affects children of all ages across all cultures. This threeday workshop will look at the indicators of physical abuse and neglect of children and young people. Participants will be given the opportunity to develop tools for working with parents and children as well as an understanding of the notification process and some basic knowledge of risk assessment. The course will also address issues of prevention and intervention through direct client work, interagency collaboration and consultation.
The child protection merry-go-round:
Managing responsibilities and anxieties
Dates: 11 June 2003 (Newcastle); 2 September
2003 (Sydney)
Cost: $100 (each workshop)
People working with children know that their legal child protection responsibilities have changed significantly since the introduction in 2000 of the Children and Young Person's (Care and Protection) Act 1998. However, working with children and young people at risk of harm can be anxiety provoking; workers can often feel lost and unsure what to do within a system which can be less than perfect. This course explains worker's legal child protection responsibilities and explores ways to support children and young people at risk of harm. The importance of managing worker anxiety and its impact on practice will also be discussed. Those who have attended 'What's New in Child Protection' will find some parts of this course are revisited.
Physical discipline: The 'do's & don'ts'
Date: 20 August 2003
Cost: $100
Location: Sydney
Smacking is a commonly accepted form of discipline in Australia, although its effectiveness is increasingly being challenged. In New South Wales in 2002, the Crimes Amendment (Child Protection - Excessive Punishment) Act 2000 was passed. This act limits how parents can physically punish their children and is the first of its kind in Australia. People working with families may face dilemmas about physical punishment such as: 'Can I tell the parents I work that it's okay to use physical punishment with their children?'; 'How much and what type of physical punishment is legal?'; 'What is the difference between physical punishment and physical abuse?'; and 'How do I support parents to effectively discipline their children?'. These questions and more will be explored in this workshop.
Brief solution-focused approaches to
school problems
Date: 4 June 2003
Cost: $100
Location: Penrith
This workshop will focus on a range of ideas that have been demonstrated as effective in creating a school ethos in which problems can more effectively be addressed. Examples will be given from a specific school that was changed from one with low academic achievements and high levels of vandalism and other disciplinary problems, into its almost exact opposite (as subsequently attested to by a Government Inspector's detailed report). This was achieved using brief therapy principles and cutting back on traditional disciplinary measures. The interactional view, brief and solution-focused principles and a range of procedures that logically follow from them will be discussed and demonstrated.
Making your service accessible to a culturally
diverse community
Date: 16-17 June 2003
Cost: $200
Location: Parramatta
How do you make your programs culturally appropriate? How do you encourage people from diverse language and cultural backgrounds to use your service? What skills do you need to work effectively with diversity? This practical and interactive two-day workshop explores the 'magic' triangle of cultural competence, outreaching to the community and developing an accessible service. Participants will be able to analyse their own service and begin to develop a plan to make it more accessible.
Safe home visiting
Dates: 3 April 2003 (Liverpool); 31 July 2003
(Parramatta);19 September 2003 (Sydney)
Cost: $100 (each workshop)
The goal of this one-day workshop is for participants to have a clear understanding of the procedures and strategies essential to ensure their physical and emotional safety when home visiting clients and their families. These include assessment of risk situations, and strategies that can assist workers with a successful outcome where concerns are raised. Appropriate actions following an incident of concern will be identified, and the worker's and manager's responsibility in such matters discussed. The workshop aims at participant involvement, whilst providing fresh ideas and assistance to workers.
Family law and domestic violence
Date: 15 May 2003
Cost: $30
Location: Southern Melbourne
This training aims to consolidate and extend workers' knowledge of the Family Law Act. It will overview the Family Law Act, paying particular attention to the legal consideration given to domestic violence, as well as providing details of the various stages people go through as they progress through the Family Court.
Domestic violence and child protection
Date: 12 June 2003
Cost: $25 SAAP;$50 non SAAP
Location: Melbourne CBD
This training explores the links between domestic violence and child abuse; describes the way in which the Child Protection System works; and examines ways in which the Domestic Violence and Child Protection fields can work more collaboratively.
Introduction to domestic violence
Dates: 9, 16, 23 & 30 May 2003
Cost: $100 SAAP;$200 non SAAP
Location: to be advised
This training, held over four consecutive Fridays, is for workers who are new (less than 12 months) to the domestic violence field, and workers in the health and community sector whose work brings them into contact with women and children experiencing domestic violence. Success- ful completion of the training and assessment will result in a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment and TAFE credits for those people undertaking qualifications within the Health and Community Services Training Package.
Using studies to heal: Narrative therapy
with children, young people and families
who experience abuse
Date: 15-16 March 2003 or 20-21 November 2003
Cost: $230 (each workshop)
Location: Melbourne
Stories are powerful meaning-making strategies for children, young people and their families. This two-day workshop offers the opportunity for participants to examine the emergence of identity through stories; how personal life stories are influenced by abuse and family violence; how stories can be used to heal; and techniques for encouraging storytelling in therapy with children, young people and their families. The workshop will focus on ways to appreciate the principles of respect, transition and commitment in assisting in recovery from abuse-related trauma. Through discussion of participants' own cases, and a series of exercises involving a team and role plays, participants will have the opportunity to practice this approach.
Recovery from trauma: Engaging with
children and young people in the process of
recovery from sexual abuse
Date: 20 May 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
The trauma associated with experiences of sexual abuse can have profound and lasting consequences. This workshop will draw on psychotherapeutic and postmodern ideas to understand the impact of trauma on a child or young person's thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and provide strategies for facilitating a process of recovery.
Healing the hurt: Promoting change in
children who have experienced abuse-related
trauma
Dates: 19 June 2003 (Melbourne); 19 September
2003 (Bendigo)
Cost: $120 (each workshop)
This workshop will explore the consequences of abuse and family violence on the development of a child's sense of self, relationships, confidence and abilities. Participants will have the opportunity to develop enhanced skills in working with children who have experienced abuse and trauma, and explore strategies to promote the child's recovery. This workshop will enhance participants' skills and knowledge in understanding, communicating with and responding to children who have experienced abuse or family violence.
Generating mandates for change -
Working with resistant or involuntary families
Date: 23 June 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
This workshop deconstructs current conceptualisations of 'resistance'. It offers alternative ways for understanding 'resistant- like' characteristics demonstrated by families. It will provide participants with opportunities to identify key strategies to work in collaboration with 'resistance' through generating mandates for dialogue and change. It will enhance the skills of participants in ensuring the relevance and effectiveness of their practice with families who are described as 'difficult' or 'non-engaging'.
Keeping children in view: Therapy with
children and parents in high conflict parental
separation
Date: 23 July 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
High conflict parental separations significantly and adversely impact on those family members directly involved in the dispute. In many instances there is a close correlation between these cases and those involving family violence. Family members caught in the midst of these disputes are often difficult to engage in any therapeutic or change process. This workshop will explore the dynamics that create difficulties for children and their parents in such situations. It will also provide opportunities for participants to explore and develop ways of working with children and parents that seek to enhance better outcomes for children.
Balancing rights and needs: Promoting ethical
practice with children
Date: 25 July 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
Working with children professionally raises many ethical issues in regard to balancing and responding to children's rights, needs and welfare. Finding a way to address these ethical concerns and work in ethically sensitive ways is a daily challenge to professionals. This workshop will provide a forum for professionals experienced in working with children to explore, debate and discuss the ethical issues in such work.
Understanding and responding to children
experiencing child abuse and neglect
Date: 7 August 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
The aim of this seminar is to provide an overview of the complex issues of child abuse and neglect. Participants will gain knowledge and skills in more effectively identifying child abuse and neglect, in addition to gaining an appreciation of the impact of abuse on children and young people, while reflecting on the implications of these issues for themselves and their agencies.
Resistance and renewal: Advanced narrative
therapy with children and families in which
abuse has occurred
Date: 15 August 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
This workshop aims to enhance the practice of individuals who use narrative therapy with children who have experienced abuse and their families. It will focus on an in-depth exploration of the influence of postmodernist ideas in therapeutic exchanges. It provides opportunities for workshop participants to receive specific feedback about areas of their narrative approach they wish to develop further. It will examine the meaning-making capacities of children, young people and family members who experience violence, violation and disempowerment.
Developing helping conversations with
children who have experienced abuse or
neglect and their parents
Date: 18-19 September 2003
Cost: $230
Location: Melbourne
This two-day workshop will explore the consequences of abuse and family violence on the children's development. Participants will have the opportunity to develop enhanced skills in working with children who have experienced abuse and trauma, and to explore strategies to engage parents in the child's recovery. The workshop will enhance participants' skills and knowledge on understanding, communicating with and responding to children who have experienced abuse or family violence. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the impact of abuse on the parent/s and parent-child relationship and explore ways to promote the parents' ability to better understand their child's experience and develop positive ways to support and communicate with their child.
Working therapeutically with parents whose
children have experienced abuse
Date: 21 October 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
This workshop will assist participants to explore their work with parents of children who have experienced abuse, and the philosophies and assumptions that underpin this work. Using a child-centred approach, this workshop will explore the importance of understanding the needs of the parents. There will be a focus on the emotional needs of parents, and on the vulnerabilities of parents with their own history of abuse. Different psychotherapeutic theories of engaging and working with parents will be drawn upon throughout this workshop.
Developing connections: Engaging young
people who have experienced abuse and
violence in a process of change
Date: 23 October 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
This workshop will explore the consequences of abuse on the development of a young person's sense of self and relationships. The consequences for young people of abuse that commenced in childhood versus that which commenced in adolescence will be considered. Participants will explore the impact of these experiences on young people's ability to engage with helping professionals in a process of change. This workshop will explore the notion of 'difficult to engage' or 'resistant' young people, and encourage participants to consider alternative ways of understanding this frame of reference.
Family terrorism: Understanding and
responding to the needs of children and young
people who have experienced physical abuse
form their carers
Date: 5 December 2003
Cost: $120
Location: Melbourne
This workshop provides a conceptual framework for understanding the impact of physical abuse on the social, psychological and emotional functioning of children and young people. It explores possible interpretive frames of violence available to children and young people. It encourages participants to link the attitudes held by parents/carers about physical punishment with opportunities to promote respectful and restorative processes for their children.
Introduction to mental health
Date: 12 May 2003 or 27 October 2003
Cost: $77 (each workshop)
Location: South Australia
This intensive introductory workshop is aimed at those dealing with people who may have mental health issues. It is suitable for a range of workers including those who have contact with the public on a daily basis, or who would like to improve their understanding and skills to enhance their service to clients. The workshop will provide an overview of mental health issues, systems and referral networks, and practical tips and input from a consumer team with first-hand information and experience.
Complaints handling in the human services
Date: 4 August 2003 or 17 November 2003
Cost: $77 (each workshop)
Location: South Australia
This popular course examines the importance of training in complaints handling for the human services; key questions about complaints in your organisation; how to make your organisation complaints friendly; developing a complaints policy; and integrating complaints into your daily practice. It also teaches practical complaints handling skills.
Dealing with difficult situations and people
Date: 2 June 2003 or 24 November 2003
Cost: $77 (each workshop)
Location: South Australia
An intensive workshop is aimed at those who find themselves dealing with difficult customers and difficult situations. Ahandson approach with practical tips, exercises and discussion can be put to work as soon as the workshop is over. Participants are encouraged to bring a difficult situation to the workshop for analysis and action.
Parent Education Group Facilitators training
Dates: 29 April-24 June 2003 (Term 1);
21 July-15 September 2003 (Term 2)
Location: Term 1 Dandenong (Melbourne);
Term 2 Frankston (Melbourne)
Parentzone is offering two opportunities for people to participate in a nine-week program to train as Parent Education Group Facilitators. The program will teach group processes and facilitation, and strengthsbased, solution-focused parenting.
COMPILED BY JOAN KELLEHER, AIFS LIBRARIAN. The following selections from new additions to the Clearinghouse collection over the last six months may be borrowed from the Australian Institute of Family Studies library via the interlibrary loan system.
A b o r i g i n a l c h i l d r e n
Many voices: reflections on experiences of Indigenous child separation, edited by D. Mellor & A. Haebich, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2002, 324pp, 1 audio CD.
This book draws on the extensive information collected for the National Library's 'Bringing Them Home Oral History Project' - testimonies from all sides of the history of Indigenous child separation in Australia. The book includes the voices of children who were taken from their families, adults who cared for them in institutions and missions, families who took them into their homes and government officers who enacted official policies. Adiverse group of expert writers have contributed their perspectives, which are interwoven with artworks and poetry from Indigenous artists, many of whom were interviewees for the project.
Tjitji tjuta atunymanama kamiku tjukurpawanangku = looking after children grandmothers'way: report to the Child Protection Policy and Planning Unit, SA, on the Child Protection Project, by Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara Women's Council, Department of Family and Community Services, Canberra, 1991.
Presenting the views of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara Women's Council on child protection policies, this report asserts the importance of Women's Law, Grandmothers' law in raising children. The report presents the results of two rounds of fieldwork interviews: the first employed very open ended questions; the second used a questionnaire on specific issues arising from analysis of the first stage interviews. On both occasions interviews were conducted by anangu (Pitjantjatjara word for Aboriginal person) or relatives of anangu. The questonnaire is included as an appendix. The report describes the effect of current child protection practices on Indigenous communities, and calls for community control over decisions concerning the care and protection of children and family cohesion.
Working with Indigenous children and families: what do services need to know to provide effective support to protect Indigenous children, provide care and strengthen Indigenous communities? by M. Cadd, SNAICC Newsletter, Winter-Spring 2002, pp.1-6.
Addressing the issue of how best to protect Indigenous children, the author discusses strategies that can be used by agencies in the field of child and family welfare. She urges service providers to engage in a cooperative effort to achieve child protection through strengthening Indigenous families and communities, pointing out that Indigenous children must be seen in the context of their community and therefore the needs of the community, or family, must also be met. The author notes that Indigenous organisations providing community and family services are often small and inadequately funded, and asks that government agencies offer the funding and infrastructure to support them. She believes that partnerships between mainstream and Indigenous agencies will result in the delivery of appropriate and effective child and community services to Indigenous people.
Putting the picture together: Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, by S. Gordon, K. Hallahan & D.Henry, State Law Publisher, Perth, WA, 2002.
The Inquiry into the Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities has examined how Western Australian state government agencies respond to evidence of family violence and child sexual abuse that may be occurring in Aboriginal communities generally; considered current research into the prevalance, causes and solutions to Aboriginal family violence; consulted widely, including with representatives of Aboriginal communities, youth, health services and related organisations; and made recommendations on practical solutions for addressing incidents of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities, including any necessary legislative and administrative measures. The report provides a full overview of the Inquiry; of family violence and child abuse, including causality and prevalance; of service provision by seven government agencies in WA, against a backdrop of research on service developments in responding to family violence and child abuse; and of findings and recommendations.
A c t i o n r e s e a r c h
Using action research to facilitate change in child protection services, by F.Seymour & E.Davies, Journal of Community Psychology, vol.30, no.5, Sept 2002, pp.585-90.
The authors have been involved in the planning and development of services for child abuse investigation and therapy. As well as the development of those services, the authors have also retained an interest in the suitability of various research models that could be applied to their work. In this article they describe action research and the model of research that they think best describes their activities, and illustrate this in relation to their efforts in the area of improving services to children and their families where allegations of sexual abuse have occurred.
A d o p t i o n
Review of Queensland's adoption laws by Queensland Department of Families, Adoption Legislation Review Unit, Australian Journal of Family Law, vol.16 no.3 Dec 2002, pp.181-84.
Queensland's Department of Families is conducting an internal review of the Adoption of Children Act 1964, recognising the need to develop a legislative framework to support contemporary, child focused and efficient adoption practice in Queensland. This article sets out the background to the review, the terms of reference, issues being considered, and the time frame.
A s y l u m s e e k e r s
Damaging kids: children in Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs'immigration and detention centres, by Western Young People's Independent Network, Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace, East Melbourne, 2002.
Australia is a signatory to several United Nations conventions on human rights. This report assesses how well these international agreements are being respected in Australia's treatment of children and young people seeking asylum. It investigates how young people in immigration detention are affected by their experiences. Given the disturbing evidence that emerges of self harm by people held in detention, the report concludes that the emotional and psychological abuse of children is occurring in detention centres administered by the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and that the Department's policy and practices create a culture of self harm and psychological child abuse.
Protecting children or political priorities? The role of governments at Woomera, by M. Liddell & C. Goddard, Children Australia, vol.27, no.3, 2002, pp.26-32.
In March 2002 the authors notified all the children living in the Woomera Detention Centre to South Australia's child protection system, in an effort to ensure that the well- being of those children was protected. An investigation was conducted; serious problems at Woomera were identified, and the relevant South Australian Minister asked the Federal Minister for Immigration for 'new guidelines' for the centre. Then silence descended. In this article, the authors detail the reasons for their notifications and outline the events which followed. The Federal Government criticised the report of the investigation by South Australian child protection workers, and there is no indication of any action taken on it. In explaining the ensuing silence the authors refer to their understanding of the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal and South Australian governments. This memorandum, it is believed, ensures no further information about Woomera will be revealed. Further, the memorandum appears to leave the Federal Government with total responsibility for follow-up action. The South Australian Government seems to have surrendered its responsibility in this regard. Given the lack of action, the authors question whether both levels of government could be in breach of South Australia's Children's Protection Act 1993. (Journal abstract)
A t r i s k g r o u p s
Attributions, affect, and behavior in abuse-risk mothers: a laboratory study, by M. R. Dadds et al., Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.27, no.1, Jan 2003, pp.21-45.
This study investigated parent attributions in mothers who were at risk of child abuse, and those who did not experience significant parental or child behaviour problems. It assessed how parental attributions predict affective and behavioural reactions to child behaviour. The authors found that abuse risk mothers were more likely to attribute positive behaviour to external causes, and negative behaviour to internal causes.
C h i l d p r o t e c t i o n p o l i c y
Child abuse: towards a knowledge base, by B.Corby, Buckingham, Open University Press, 2000.
This work considers child abuse in a historical, social and political context, looks at policy developments in Britain since the early 1990s, and examines concerns about the extent and nature of institutional abuse and the shift towards more preventive family supportive approaches to child protection work.
An integrated strategy for child protection and placement services, by Department of Human Services (Victoria), Community Care Division, Melbourne, 2002.
During 2002 the Victorian Department of Human Services undertook research to identify better responses to complex and chronic problems within some families, and to allow earlier intervention to prevent child abuse and neglect. This document outlines an integrated strategy designed to achieve an improved service response for children within the protection and placement system. The strategy is based on five themes: strengthening prevention and diversion; improving flexibility and responsiveness; community-based solutions to recognise local issues; more effective support for Indigenous children and families; and capacity building to improve services and processes.
C h i l d p r o t e c t i o n s e r v i c e s
Children and young people in Queensland: a snapshot, by Queensland Commission for Children and Young People, The Commission, Brisbane, 2002.
The Commission for Children and Young People considers the monitoring of the wellbeing of children in Queensland, particularly relating to governmental services, a key imperative for the State Government. This report focuses specifically on examinations of children and young people that allow the development of measurable 'indicators of well being'. That is, it focuses on literature that allows the categorisation of specific factors that may provide measures of children and young people's health, safety, education and general wellbeing. This is followed by an examination of the available data held by government agencies on children and young people in Queensland, and the policy implications resulting from an analysis of such data. This has been done in an attempt to identify longterm trends and service gaps, and as a guide to initiatives aimed at protecting children and young people from harm.
A fair start for Queensland children: young people and families: a report card on child protection services, by A. Elliott & C. Sultmann, Queensland Council of Social Service, Kelvin Grove, Qld, 2002.
This report is part of the larger initiative, the Fair Queensland campaign (2002), which aims to revive commitment to equity in Australia and is an initiative of the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS). The report examines the current range of child protection services, evaluating performance and noting where services can be introduced or further improved. It particularly focuses on responding to reports of harm, working with families, and meeting the needs of children in care, and makes several recommendations for future policy and services.
The Inquiry into Child Protection Services reports, by L. Frow, NCOSS News, vol.29, no.10, Nov 2002, pp.1- 6.
The Interim Report on Child Protection Services, the first report from the Inquiry of the NSW Standing Committee on Social Issues, was released on the 16 October 2002 in conjunction with the First Report on Early Intervention for Children with Learning Difficulties. The author explains the deliberate linking of these two reports, summarises the recommendations made in the Interim Report, and highlights a number of questions that are raised by the two reports that will need some further thought and response from the community sector.
A time to invest in Australia's most disadvantaged children, young people and their families, by Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia (CAFWAA), The Association, Sydney, 2002.
This paper outlines the major policy issues which the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia (CAFWAA) believes Commonwealth and State governments need to address. It paints a picture of how we might establish opportunities to empower and enrich Australia's families and children, and outlines a series of targeted planning and actions to be taken across a number of dimensions of Australia's service systems. Sections are: promoting stability and permanence for children and young people; investing in family strengths and prevention programs; actively supporting kinship care; development and support of foster carers; the need for a range of services for children and young people with complex needs; educational needs of children and young people in out of home care; commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; a new response to refugee children; building service quality: practice standards, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement; commitment to nongovernment sector sustainability.
C h i l d p r o t e c t i o n w o r k e r s
The influence of risk and protective factors on burnout experienced by those who work with maltreated children, by M. Stevens & D. Higgins, Child Abuse Review, vol.11, no.5, Sept-Oct 2002, pp.313-31.
In a study exploring the degree and type of burnout, trauma symptoms and coping strategies reported by those working with maltreated children and families, the authors found high levels of emotional exhaustion and low to moderate levels of personal satisfaction. Workers filled in self-report questionnaires assessing family background, adjustment and coping strategies. The authors found that family background characteristics predicted the occurrence of maltreatment and adjustment and a personal history of maltreatment predicted current trauma symptoms but not burnout. Even when positive coping strategies are employed, interpersonal, intra individual and job resource issues affect their efficacy.
Strengthening families to protect children: a discussion paper, by PeakCare Queensland, Paddington, Qld, 2002.
PeakCare is the peak body for non government child and family welfare services in Queensland. In this discussion paper, PeakCare puts forward strategies to help prevent the abuse and neglect of children and young people, to provide early intervention for families unable to protect and care for their children, and to assist families to cope with and recover from past instances of child abuse or neglect.
C h i l d r e n ' s w i s h e s
Children, family and the state: decisionmaking and child participation, by N. Thomas, Policy Press, Bristol, UK, 2002.
Different theories of childhood, children's rights and the relationships between children, parents and the state are examined. The care system and the extent to which children have been, and are, involved in decisions is the main focus.
Youth and violence: students speak out for a more civil society, by E. Galinsky & K. Salmond, Families and Work Institute, Denver, CO., 2002.
Astudy was designed to ask a representative sample of youth directly for their solutions to violence. Physical, emotional and extreme violence were all included, and in all environments: home, school and social. Interviews with experts were also held. The findings are presented here, with their relevance to policy and action.
C r i m e
Pathways from child maltreatment to juvenile offending, by A. Stewart, E. Waterson & S. Dennison, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, 2002.
This important study demonstrates a direct path from child maltreatment to juvenile offending. It focuses on 41, 700 children born in Queensland in 1983. The authors examine 11 predictive factors for youth offending, and find that children who suffer maltreatment are more likely to offend. This study shows that working with large administrative data sets can yield critically important information for policy-making and can also inform practice.
D i s a b l e d p a r e n t s
Stereotypes, parents with intellectual disability and child protection, by D. McConnell & G. Llewellyn, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, v ol.24, no.3, 2002, pp.297-317.
Although the number of children born to parents with intellectual disabilities is increasing as a result of the banning of involuntary sterilisation, so too is the rate of child removal from such parents. The authors review the way in which child protection authorities and the courts respond to parents with intellectual disabilities. They suggest that the judgements made by the authorities are informed by stereotypical beliefs about intellectual disability, rather than the individual's parenting capacity and unique circumstances; as a result, these parents suffer disadvantage, discrimination and distress in dealing with the authorities.
D o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e
Domestic violence and child protection: a research report, review by J. Mulroney, Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Newsletter, no.13, an 2003, pp.4-6.
Domestic Violence and Child Protection, written by J. Irwin, F. Waugh and M. Wilkinson, summarises four years of research into the practice issues in child protection and domestic violence work in New South Wales. In this review of the report, the author notes its importance in allowing the voices of women and children to inform policy makers and practitioners about what makes a difference in practice. The author outlines the research project and summarises the report's findings and implications. She lists the key themes of good practice identified in the report.
Domestic violence and child protection: issues in safety planning, by F. Waugh & M. Bonner, Child Abuse Review, vol.11, no.5, Sept-Oct 2002, pp.282-95.
Citing evidence for the link between domestic violence and child abuse, the authors examine practitioner intervention policies in relation to issues identified in research around safety planning for women and children. In a survey of New South Wales practitioners, three major factors were found to influence intervention with women and children: definitional understanding of domestic violence and child abuse; child protection legislative changes; and the response of the NSW Department of Community Services to domestic violence. The authors suggest that confusion over who the client really is stands in the way of the integrated intervention needed to ensure the safety of women and children caught up in domestic violence and child abuse.
Family violence and child protection, by G. Callister, Children Australia, vol.27, no.4, 2002, pp.14-16.
Noting the increase in reported or discovered cases of family violence, particularly in Indigenous families, the author discusses the experiences of child protection workers. She outlines separately the challenges of working with men, women and children, and working with other service systems.
Intimate partner violence and child abuse: terrorism in everyday lives, by V. Walther, Children Australia, vol.27, no.4, 2002, pp.6-13.
In this Kath Dawe Memorial Lecture paper, the author discusses family violence in its social and political contexts. She explains some of the manifestations of this type of violence and presents related statistics. She talks about the role of hospitals in fighting family violence and reports on the Mount Sinai Hospital Domestic Violence Prevention Program, with which she is involved.
One way of responding to family violence: putting on a PARKAS, by W. Bunston, Children Australia, vol.27, no.4, 2002, pp.24-27.
The PARKAS (Parents Accepting Responsibility - Kids Are Safe) program was designed to help children (aged 8-12 years) who had experienced family violence. One of the key objectives of PARKAS was to prioritise the voices of the children. The author describes the structure, objectives and outcomes of the program, and considers future developments.
An unacceptable risk: a report on child contact arrangements where there is violence in the family, by K. Rendell, Z. Rathus & A. Lynch, Women's Legal Service (reprint ed.), Annerley, Qld, 2002.
The purpose of this research was to gather information on the way in which legal and welfare systems respond to women and children affected by violence and abuse after separation. Conducted over 12 months from January 1999, the methodology comprised a literature review, interviews with staff in key agencies, a survey of practitioners including lawyers, social workers and domestic violence workers, focus groups and individual interviews with women and ongoing input from the reference group. Issues discussed include: the link between domestic violence and child abuse; the role of the Family Court in child protection; characteristics of abuse of children in contact; reporting child abuse; legal aid in Queensland; and different legal pathways for different types of relationships. A summary of recommendations is provided. This publication is a reprint of the 2000 report, with the addition of a foreword which provides a brief summary of the work undertaken towards some of the issues raised in the report, as well as references to material not cited in the original publication.
Wesley Uniting Mission: Creating the Future, by H. Grimshaw, Child Abuse Prevention: National Child Protection Clearinghouse Newsletter, vol.10, no.2, Summer 2002, pp.12-14.
The Creating the Future package was designed to assist children who have been affected by family violence. The author discusses the objectives and operation of the program, which was evaluated by the Conflict Management Research Group at the University of South Australia. She includes many examples of the behaviour and stories of the children who took part. What about me? The voice of children in the Family Relationships Services Program, by E. Watt, in What About Me? The Voice of Children in the Family Relationships Services Program: 2001 Annual Conference Proceedings, Family Services Australia, Deakin, ACT, 2001, pp.20-24. The author presents her observations of the consequences of domestic violence on some children who visited children's contact centres. She aims to inform practitioners of the complex issues facing staff, and hopes that the child-focused practice developed by staff of children's contact centres will receive the recognition it deserves, and result in the development of fundamental changes in children's practice.
F ami l y l a w
Family Law Council: report on family law and child protection, by M. Osborne, Australian Journal of Family Law, vol.16, no.3, Dec 2002, pp.175-78.
The Family Law Council's report Family Law and Child Protection examines the operation of the Commonwealth family law legislation and State and Territory child and family legislation. It highlights the difficulties presented by the lack of a national framework in child and family services generally. This article briefly outlines the background to the report, and provides an overview of the Council's recommendations under the following headings: a federal child protection service; the 'one court principle'; admissibility of evidence; and high-level implementation committee.
Magellan's discoveries: an evaluation of a program for managing Family Court parenting disputes involving child abuse allegations, by T. Brown, Family Court Review, vol.40, no.3, July 2002, pp.320-32.
The Family Court of Australia introduced Project Magellan in 1998 to manage parenting disputes involving allegations of child abuse. The author presents the background of the project and the findings of an evaluation, and assesses the potential for success of similar programs elsewhere. She points out that the pilot program made a significant contribution to the knowledge about child abuse in parental separation. She argues that the relationship between child abuse and relationship breakdown is of serious concern and should be acknowledged as such.
G o r d o n R e p o r t
Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities (the Gordon Inquiry), Western Australia 2002, by T.D'Eatough, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, no.5, Summer 2002-2003, pp.50-52.
This article describes the aims of the Gordon Inquiry, set up to investigate allegations of violence and sexual abuse following the death of Susan Taylor, a young Aboriginal woman from the Swan Valley Nyoongar Community in Perth, Western Australia.
G r i e f & L o s s
'All you do is look back and regret'- disenfranchised grief as an obstacle for recovery from abuse, by M. Scott & S. Weisz, Grief Matters, vol.5, no.3, Summer 2002, pp.47-49.
Survivors of domestic violence and child sexual abuse suffer significant losses through these experiences. Often, in concentrating on survival and escape, we can ignore or diminish the importance of these losses, thus not allowing a woman time to grieve. In order to support the process of recovery, women and children need time and opportunity to grieve and, through this, move towards healing. (Journal abstract)
Child abuse and family violence: the losses for children, by N. Mudaly & J. Tucci, Grief Matters, vol.5, no.3, Summer 2002, pp.43-46.
The authors explore the experience of loss for children who have suffered abuse and family violence, drawing on research interviews conducted with children who have undertaken and completed therapy. They propose that a theoretical orientation which centrally locates loss and grief may also play an important role in understanding how to develop therapeutic and protective practices which directly compensate for such loss and promote a sense of recovery and identity configuration.
The loss and grief of the survivors of domestic violence and child abuse, by N. Macnamara, Grief Matters, vol.5, no.3, Summer 2002, pp.50-52.
This article explores the impact of loss and grief on the survivors of domestic violence. The author uses a particular framework to assist a client through the process of expressing, acknowledging and re-storying her experiences of violence, loss, pain and integration. (Journal abstract)
I n t e r a g e n c y c o l l a b o r a t i o n
Interagency practice in intensive family preservation services, by L. Campbell, Children and Youth Services Review, vol.24, no.10, Sept 2002, pp.701-18.
The role of Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) in the system of family services is explored in this article. The author discusses interagency issues raised in the evaluation of Families First, a pilot program of IFPS. This pilot program operated as a standalone program funded by State government and delivered by a non-government family support service. Referrals of children at risk of placement are made by Child Protection Services (CPS). The evaluation involved tracking tensions and achievements in the relationship between Families First and CPS, and also looked at relations with complementary family support services. This paper is addressed primarily to caseworkers who span the boundaries between organisations on a daily basis, shaping the help that is given to families in trouble and how they perceive and use that help.
K i n s h i p c a r e
Understanding kinship care: report on a research project undertaken by the Childhood and Youth Policy Research Unit of the University of Western Sydney and the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies, by J.Mason et al., Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies, Haymarket, NSW, 2002.
Official recognition of kinship care as a child welfare placement option to placement is a relatively recent development in child welfare policy throughout Australia. The authors examine the extent of the policy change, why it has occurred and the processes around its implementation. They also explore the experience of kinship care in New South Wales through interviews with workers, children and carers. Their data shows an increasing incidence of kinship care; it is now more likely to occur within New South Wales than placement with strangers. The authors believe that improvements to policy and practice within the New South Wales Department of Community Services could be achieved if their recommendations for kinship care are included in an overall restructuring of current policies relating to the child protection and child welfare system.
M a n d a t o r y r e p o r t i n g
Mandatory reporting: a state of confusion, by Australians Against Child Abuse, Victoria, Jun 2002, pp.1-3.
Under Victorian legislation it is mandatory for health education and welfare professionals to report concerns about children at risk of physical and sexual abuse. This article discusses how the legislation has been only partially implemented, with reporting by social workers, psychologists, preschool teachers and child care workers remaining discretionary. The discussion calls for a national approach to child protection and mandatory reporting, suggesting that a federal inquiry is needed to establish minimum standards of care, uniform legislation, a national independent research program and a federal system of children's services commissioners.
Mandatory reporting of child abuse: evidence and options: report for the Western Australian Child Protection Council, by M.Harries & M.Clare, Department for Community Development, Perth, WA, 2002.
The Minister for Community Development via the Western Australian Child Protection Council commissioned this analysis of the evidence that exists to support or otherwise reject mandatory reporting as an optional mechanism for addressing child abuse in Western Australia. The identified aim of the project was to present an appraisal of various methods of reporting suspected child abuse and their outcomes in terms of improving child protection in WA. The report includes an introduction to the project, the methodology used, the social and policy context, the history of mandatory reporting in Australia and internationally, various analyses and arguments regarding mandatory reporting, and appraisal of options. The report concludes with recommendations regarding future developments towards the implementation of mandatory reporting of child abuse and some reasons why various groups support it.
M u n c h a u s e n b y p r o x y s y n d ro m e
Munchausen by proxy syndrome: not only pathological parenting but also problematic doctoring?, by J. Jureidini, A. Shafer & T. Donald, Medical Journal of Australia, vol.178, no.3, Feb 2003, pp.130-32.
Certain social expectations of medicine combine with characteristics of subspecialised technological paediatrics to facilitate the form of child abuse labelled 'Munchausen by proxy syndrome'. Examining this form of child abuse highlights possible shortcomings of medical practice. The primary medical tasks of diagnosing and curing illness and of preventing suffering are sometimes overridden by other motivations of which doctors may not be fully aware. More open discussion of what motivates health professionals in their work may improve medical practice and lead to a reduced incidence of Munchausen by proxy syndrome. (Journal abstract)
Munchausen by proxy syndrome: not just pathological parenting but also problematic doctoring? Another view, by K. Moran, Medical Journal of Australia, vol.178, no.3, Feb 2003, pp.133.
Much has been written about the motivation of perpetrators in Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS), but little about the motivation of doctors who 'collude' with parents in these behaviours. It is interesting to put forward a theory as to why doctors who are motivated to make 'the diagnosis' might fail to recognise invented illness. For an understanding of motivation to be useful in preventing the phenomenon of MBPS, it would be necessary to both reliably identify doctors' motivations and intervene to change these. As a practising paediatrician, the author does not believe that either of these steps is feasible. A more useful approach to this problem of paediatric diagnosis would be to establish guidelines for the problem of the unresolved clinical problem or 'difficult diagnosis'.
P h y s i c a l p u n i s h m e n t
Please don't hit me! Community attitudes towards the physical punishment of children, by J.Tucci, B. Saunders & C. Goddard, Australians Against Child Abuse, Ringwood, Vic, 2002.
The results of the community survey described in this report show that attitudes towards the corporal punishment of children appear to be shifting. Less than 20% of respondents believed that parents should be allowed to hit (or smack) a child under two years, and only 50% thought that parents should be allowed to smack a child between the ages of two and five. Most respondents preferred non-violent methods of disciplining children to the use of physical force. Respondents clearly favoured the use of legislation to define acceptable and non-acceptable ways of punishing children. There was significant support for banning the use of implements to hit children, and for measures to prevent children from being hit around the head or shaken.
Physical punishment: what does the research say?, by P. Linke, Every Child, vol.8, no.3, Winter 2002, pp.28-29.
The author reviews research into the effects of corporal punishment on children, and reports findings that show chiefly negative associations between corporal punishment and childhood or adult behaviours, including anxiety problems, drug or alcohol problems, or antisocial problems. The research also shows links between the use of corporal punishment and child abuse, and multigenerational patterns of corporal punishment. The author describes the negative effects of corporal punishment on learning, and discusses how to teach children in a positive learning environment based on social learning theory
P l a y g r o u p s
Mobile Playscheme, by L. Hillan, Child Abuse Prevention: National Child Protection Clearinghouse Newsletter, vol.10, no.2, Summer 2002 , pp.16-17.
Child protection issues often arise in caravan parks housing families who cannot secure either public or private housing. For the last 20 years, the Mobile Playscheme, discussed in this article, has serviced Brisbane North, Brisbane South and the Gold Coast/Tweed Heads regions, providing free playgroups with a focus on the provision of safe play opportunities in 15 caravan parks.
P r e v a l e n c e
Child maltreatment in the family: the experience of a national sample of young people, by P. Cawson, NSPCC, London, 2002.
This report is based on interviews about the childhood experiences of a national random probability sample of nearly 3000 young people aged between 18-24 years. The size and representative nature of this sample make this the most authoritative prevalence study of child abuse to have been conducted to date in the United Kingdom. It considers in detail the nature of maltreatment for which parents are responsible.
P u b l i c h e a l t h
A promise unfulfilled on child abuse, by D. Scott, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol.26 no.5, Oct 2002, pp.415-16.
The WHO World Report on Violence and Health supports a public health approach to the problem of child abuse and neglect. The author provides information relating to risk and protective factors for child abuse and neglect and those associated with poor health and educational outcomes, as well as a broad range of other psycho-social problems for children and adolescents. In one chapter the report looks at child abuse and neglect and addresses the following issues: acts of omission as well as commission; the nature of intent; and normative violence. The author challenges the way these issues are addressed in the report and the assumption that accepts the right of the state to intervene in the domain of the family on behalf of the child, and the existence of a legal and service infrastructure capable of intervening in ways that benefit the child.
P u b l i s h i n g
How to write up a social work outcome study for publication, by B. A. Thyer, Journal of Social Work Research & Evaluation , vol.3 no.2, 2002, pp.215-22.
The author outlines his and others' learnings of both mistakes and successes based upon 20 years' experience of writing, reviewing and editing outcome studies in social work practice. This is presented as a standardised outline for the organisation of journal manuscripts that report evaluation studies. He reviews the most common errors that occur in writing outcome studies and describes correct practice. Also recommended is an outline to structure the way social work outcome studies are formatted.
R e s i l i e n c e
Nurturing resilience in our children: answers to the most important parenting questions, by R. B. Brooks & S. Goldstein, Contemporary Books, Chicago, Ill., 2003.
In this book the authors of Raising Resilient Children expand their theory of resilience. Parents can help children acquire the building blocks of resilience, thus arming them with the emotional tools needed to resolve problems and make appropriate and thoughtful decisions. Other characteristics of resilient children include better self control and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to handle challenges and frustrations effectively.
Promoting resilience in children and young people, by R. Gilligan, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, no.5, Summer 2002-2003, pp.29-35.
The author emphasises the importance of encouraging resilience and positive qualities such as self-esteem in young people who have been abused. He points out ways this can be achieved, in particular through the child's relationship with a dependable adult, for example, a teacher.
S e x d i f f e r e n c e s
Gender and child protection, by J. Scourfield, Palgrave, New York, 2003.
This book examines the gender differences in child protection services (CPS). Women are more likely to be engaged with CPS than men, who are more likely to harm children. The reasons for this gender difference are addressed and different ways to engage men and women are discussed.
S e x u a l a b u s e
Abolishing child sex tourism: Australia's contribution, by M. Brungs, Australian Journal of Human Rights, vol.8, no.2, Dec 2002, pp.101-24.
The author examines Australia's position on child sex tourism: how effective its legislation is, and to what extent it is complying with international obligations. She outlines some of the issues involved before discussing international laws on child sex tourism and the relevant Australian legislation, namely the Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Amendment Act 1994. She considers difficulties in implementing it, whether reform is appropriate, and whether this legislation has been successful. While she believes that the Act has achieved its objectives, she identifies problems in its operation and strategies that may overcome these.
Profiting from abuse: an investigation into the sexual exploitation of our children, UNICEF, New York, 2001.
The problem of the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children for commercial gain is investigated in this book. Protection policies need to be tailored to the specific cultural, national and local realities of the societies in which the exploitation occurs.
The sexual abuse of children by strangers: its extent, nature and victims' characteristics, by B.Gallager, M. Bradford & K. Pease, Children & Society, vol.16, no.5, Nov 2002, pp.346-59.
This paper examines the issue of stranger abuse of children. The perception by parents of the extent of such abuse and the real extent of the problem are discussed.
Sexually abused and sexually exploited children and youth in South Asia: a qualitative assessment of their health needs and available services, by Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations, New York, c.2000.
In 1997 the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific adopted a resolution to eliminate the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth in South East Asia and the Pacific. This report provides information on the current situation in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Sexually abused and sexually exploited children and youth in the Greater Mekong Subregion: a qualitative assessment of their health needs and available services, by Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations, New York, 2000.
In 1997 the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific adopted a resolution to eliminate the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth in South East Asia and the Pacific. This report provides information on the current situation in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
We are not alone: a guidebook for helping professionals and parents supporting adolescent victims of sexual abuse, by J. C. Angelica, Haworth Maltreatment and Trauma Press, New York, c.2002.
Adolescent victims of sexual abuse have specific needs and concerns. This book provides a court-oriented resource which is targeted toward this group. The process of reporting, investigating and prosecuting cases of sexual abuse are explained in ways which help the young victim better understand what is happening and why.
S u b s t i t u t e c a r e
Children entering out-of-home-care in South Australia: baseline analyses for a 3-year longitudinal study, by P. Delfabbro, J. Barber & L. Cooper, Children and Youth Services Review, vol.24, no.12, Dec 2002, pp.917-32.
Referring to the paucity of attention given to understanding the complex interaction between child and placement variables, the authors note that it is important for researchers to ascertain which child characteristics are important or decisive in placement decisions. Research by Farmer has suggested that this process can be facilitated by the identification of subgroups of children. This article describes a study which examined the statistical validity of Farmer's classification system using a sample of 235 children placed into alternative care in South Australia. The data represent the baseline results for a threeyear longitudinal study that will systematically assess the psycho-social and placement outcomes of foster children every four to six months to obtain a clearer understanding of the interaction between outcomes in alternative care and child characteristics.
The costs of caring: a study of appropriate foster care payments for stable and adequate out of home care in Australia, by M. McHugh, NSW Association of Children's Welfare Agencies, Sydney, 2002.
Foster care is the backbone of child welfare services and is undergoing a crisis in recruitment and retention partly due to poor reimbursement. In 2001, the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia, the Australian Foster Care Association and the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies commissioned the Social Policy Research Centre to examine the adequacy and effectiveness of foster care allowances in Australia. The broad research objective was to establish a set of budgets to cover costs for children of specific ages and sex in home-based care. The study used three sources of information to examine the issue of adequacy of subsidy payments: surveys with agencies and foster care associations; focus groups with carers; and estimates of the costs of children developed by the Budget Standards Unit at the SPRC for children not in care. The research finds that the estimates of the costs of children in foster care are on average 52% higher than the costs of children not in care. It shows that no State or Territory is, overall, paying an adequate reimbursement to foster carers at the standard subsidy level, compared to the estimated costs of foster children. The research also confirms that there is a high level of discontent amongst carers about reimbursement of costs in all States and Territories.
Family reunification: rhetoric and risks, by B. Clare, Children Australia, vol.27, no.3, 2002, pp.19-25.
This paper explores the recent emphasis on family reunification as an intervention strategy with 'high-risk' families whose children have been placed in the care of the state for reasons of significant abuse and/or neglect. It considers some of the dominant ideas and ideologies around reunification as an intervention strategy and reflects on the many layers of complexity involved in seeking to reconnect children and families under circumstances of risk. Finally, it considers the 'systemic factors' that compound the inherent difficulties involved in returning children to the care of their parents and offers some practice strategies aimed at recognising and minimising those risks and maximising the likelihood of a successful and safe outcome. (Journal abstract)
Promoting the participation of children and young people in care, by J. Cashmore, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.26, no.8, Aug 2002, pp.837-47.
Emphasising the importance for young people and children in care of participating in decisions that affect their lives, the author reviews research in this area from the UK, North America, Australia and New Zealand. She examines the reasons why participation is important, and finds that children and young people often do not feel that they have opportunities to participate. She concludes that to achieve genuine and effective participation, the following must exist: opportunity and choice in ways to participate; access to relevant information; the availability of a trusted advocate; proper resourcing; and supportive policy and legislation. She also points out the need for feedback to measure the effectiveness of these measures.
S y s t e m s a b u s e
What's wrong with child welfare? An examination of current practices that harm children, by M. Kiraly, Children Australia, vol.27, no.3, 2002, pp.10-18.
This paper outlines the growing awareness of one experienced professional in the out-of-home care field regarding some of the deleterious practices of the present time. While much good practice exists in this field, it is the author's contention that entrenched attitudes which convey insensitivity and discrimination towards children and young people in care are still all too frequent, and that these attitudes continue to militate against meeting the essential needs of children and young people. This paper outlines a group of theoretical concepts and relates them to a number of areas of current malpractice by way of an attempt to explain how these occur. In doing this, it seeks not to deny the sensitivity and skill of most current practitioners, and the excellent work that abounds in the child/youth welfare fields. Rather, the paper seeks to address those areas of practice which are still of concern, and to call for a change of attitude where needed. (Journal abstract)
NCPC home |
© National Child Protection Clearinghouse Australian Institute of Family Studies, Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000. Tel: (03) 9214 7888. Fax: (03) 9214 7839. Web: www.aifs.gov.au/nch |
AIFS home |