This document provides an overview and summary of systems reform in child protection law, policy, and services in Australia. It discusses key themes from various inquiries and reports into vulnerable children and child abuse. These themes include expansion of family support services, collaboration between universal and specialized children's services, adoption and permanent care options, leaving care support, and overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in state care. Ongoing issues addressed include child advocacy, out-of-home care services, workforce training, and data sharing across jurisdictions.

1. Systems Reform: New Directions in Child Protection law policy
and services in Australia
Paper Presented to BASPCAN Congress Edinburgh (12-15 April 2015)
by Angela Forbes, President CFECFW
14th
April 2015

2. The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
(CFECFW) is a peak body of 96 community service
organisations providing child and family services in
Victoria. The Centre provides training and workforce
development, policy and advocacy, organisational
development and support and research. Over 5000
people across Australia subscribe to its Sector E News

3. • Introduction
• Australian childhood today
• Vulnerable children
• Inquiries and legislative policy and practice
directions in Australia
• Implementation and outcomes
• Key themes
• Reflection for further work

4. 3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Jun
2014 Quality Declaration
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/12/2014
Australia’s Population is Aging

5. Australian Child Protection Notifications,
Investigations and Substantiations 2013

6. Australian Trend in Notifications,
Investigations and Substantiations

7. Child Protection and
Wellbeing Reform:
Refer to the context of
Scandal

8. Taking
Responsibility –
A Roadmap for
Queensland
Child Protection
Protecting
Victoria’s
Vulnerable
Children Inquiry
2012
Growing them
strong,
together 2010
Report of the Special
Commission of Inquiry
into Child Protection
Services in NSW 2008
Betrayal of
Trust 2013Tasmania Report of
the Auditor General
Children in Out of
Home Care 2011
Parliament of
Tasmania Select
Committee on
Child Protection
Final Report
2011
Putting the Picture Together. Inquiry
into Response by Government
Agencies to Complaints of Family
Violence and Child Abuse in
Aboriginal Communities
Review of the Department for
Community Development Review
Report 2007
Little Children
are Sacred
ACTACT
National Royal
Commission into
Institutional Responses
to Child Sexual Abuse
Royal Commission
South Australia Child
Protection Systems
2014
Tasmanian Commissioner for
Children 2010. Inquiry into the
Circumstances of a 12 year
old child under Guardianship
of Society
Royal Commission
2012-2013
Report of Independent
Education Inquiry
Child Protection and
Wellbeing Reports by
Jurisdiction

9. • Expansion of diversionary approaches such as intensive family
services and family group conferencing
• Colocation of universal and secondary child and family services
particularly early childhood education and health
• Re-emergence of adoption and permanent care in long –term
provision for children
• Leaving care ; extension of statutory care to age 21 amid
concerns for poor health and educational outcomes
Implementation Current Key Issues in State
Jurisdictions

10. Implementation Current Key Issues in
State Jurisdictions (continued)
• Overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in care and
centrality of community decision making to turning this
around
• Machinery of government provision for child advocacy
such as Children's Commissioners and Ombudsman
• Purchasing arrangements :tendering of out of home
care services previously delivered by Government and
intensive family support services
• Workforce competencies, qualifications and training

11. The implications of the National Royal Commission into Institutional
Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for state authorities, providers of family
and children's services (including out of home care) on ensuring child safe
organisations and on government and non-government liability for
outcomes in out-of-home care, including redress.
The future of the National Child Protection Framework (including national
standards for out of home care) a national process seeking to drive
common approaches and priorities across the states independent
jurisdictions -currently under review
Key National Themes

12. Key National Themes (continued)
The interaction of barriers in housing support, income support, training
and higher education fees and employment and training sector
deregulation to improving leaving care educational and employment
outcomes for young people aged 18-21
The impact or recent recommissioning and retendering of National
Government programs especially in provision of family support services –
constitutionally these site t the universal preventative and secondary
intervention space but are essential to a systemic approach to child
protection and wellbeing

13. • Demand
• Harmonisation
• Aboriginal services and decision making
• Child representation and advocacy
• Data
• Professional mandate
• Funding
• Professional foster care
Key Themes in Future Priorities

14. References
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15. Kay, A. B.-m. (2015, March). Success and Failure in Public Policy: Twin Imposters or Avenues for Reform? Selected
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AND RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OCCURRING IN OUT OF HOME CARE. Sydney:
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march-2015,-sydney
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References (continued)

16. References (continued)
Stanley, F. (2014, March 28). The Wellbeing of Australian Children in 2034: closing the gap between our aspirations and
our effort. Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. Retrieved March 28, 2015, from
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March 28, 2015, from http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20140326-Residential-Care/20140326-Residential-Care.pdf

17. Further information:
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Level 5/50 Market Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia
www.cfecfw.asn.au
info@cfecfw.asn.au
Authors:
Angela Forbes Chair CFECFW Board and CEO Uniting Care Connexions
angela.forbes@connections.org.au +61 9271 0800
Deb Tsorbaris CEO deb.tsorbaris@cfecfw.asn.au
Tel +61 3 9614 1577
Marilyn Webster Director Social Policy and Research
marilyn.webster@cfecfw.asn.au
Tel +61 3 9614 1577

18. Thank You