National framework for protecting Australia's children: Perspectives on progress and challenges
April 2011 marked the second anniversary of the announcement of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 (“the National Framework”) by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG, 2009a). The aim of the National Framework is to make a substantial and sustained reduction in child abuse and neglect; such a goal is to be achieved through a series of three-year action plans to 2020.
Financial and Non-Financial Support to Formal and Informal Out-of-Home Carers
This report explores the supports and services available to formal and informal out-of-home carers (foster, grandparent and kinship carers). In conjunction with existing qualitative evidence from carers, it analyses current gaps in support to build an understanding of carers’ needs and priorities and the barriers to undertaking a caring role.
A dream come true – no more residential care. A corrective note
This note is about the attempt by the Australian State and Territory child care and protection systems to do without residential programmes. It traces the process of moving to this position and the historical and policy imperatives that supported this service direction. It also outlines the consequences of the absence of 24 hours-a-day 7-days-a-week residential education or treatment programmes for difficult and disturbed young people. It is both a cautionary and corrective note designed to underline the need for some specialised and highly selective residential programmes as part of any mature child care and protection system. This is something that Australia forgot.