National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children: Implementing the first three-year action plan 2009-2012 

What is in the action plan?

The first three-year action plan of the National Framework contains more than 70 actions. Together, these actions will help to reduce child abuse, sexual assault and neglect, and over time will contribute to the body of evidence and assist in the setting of priorities in relation to child safety and wellbeing.

Improving the wellbeing and safety of children is a complex issue with many parts. Actions identified in the National Framework build on existing work and are joint undertakings between Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and non-government organisations. At the same time, actions will be led by specific jurisdictions, portfolios or non-government organisations, depending on who has overall responsibility for taking a particular action forward.

Groups of actions

While CDSMC is the overall manager of the National Framework, it will not have the day-to-day responsibility for many of these actions. What CDSMC will do is monitor the progress of actions in the National Framework to ensure they are moving forward. This will be done through a range of governance mechanisms, as described in section 4, enabling some of the National Framework's broader actions to be more effectively tackled.

The actions in the first three-year plan have been grouped according to their focus and who is responsible for their day-to-day management. The grouping of actions is likely to be fluid, reflecting the shifts in priority and focus that happen as projects and initiatives develop. However, this Implementation Plan 2009-2012 will help you see who is taking forward the particular action you are interested in, and find out more about it.

We have identified four broad groupings of actions in the first three-year plan:

• national priorities - these cover areas of need and are the foundation for future work that will assist in building the evidence base
• major reforms - these relate to broader social reform agendas
• ongoing initiatives for children and families - actions already under way
• community initiatives - actions undertaken within community organisations, independent of government.

Figure 1 links groups of actions to the spectrum of child protection services under the 'public health model'.

Figure 1: Links to public health model



While there are formal reporting and management arrangements for each grouping of actions (see section 3), members of the community can become involved in the implementation of any action and watch its progress.

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National priorities

National priorities are those actions under the National Framework that will be a major focus for the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector in the first three years. These actions will deliver significant outcomes.

Priorities such as enhancing the evidence base, filling research gaps, and developing national standards for out-of-home care are important because they set the foundation for the work ahead. Other priorities have been identified because they are areas where it has been agreed that immediate action is necessary, for example sexual abuse, the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous children, young people leaving care and improved support for grandparent, kinship and foster carers.

These national priorities will take considerable commitment and resources from all partners to deliver, and some encompass more than one action under the National Framework. If successful, these priorities will go a long way to improving the safety and wellbeing of Australian children.

While there is a national priority directly related to Indigenous children, we would like to note that each of the national priorities have the capacity to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous children and families. Throughout the implementation and delivery of national priorities and the National Framework as a whole we will explore ways to address the specific needs of Indigenous and other vulnerable children.

National Priority: Joining up service delivery

Supporting Outcome

2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early (Actions 2.1.A and 2.4.A).

What/action

Implement a joined up approach to service design, planning and delivery, targeted to the hard to reach, most disadvantaged families and children, by leveraging services and support from Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.

This includes refocusing the Communities for Children services under the Family Support Program, and influencing other Family Support Program services to focus on vulnerable families and children who are at risk of entering the child protection system.

Existing Communities for Children Plus services will also be realigned to target the most disadvantaged communities, and eight demonstration sites will be established to test a model of joined up service delivery and intensive early intervention and prevention support to children at risk. States and Territories will continue with initiatives to increase the availability of additional family support services.

When/how

First year

• Realign existing Communities for Children sites to target the most disadvantaged communities.
• CDSMC endorsement of the phased implementation of Communities for Children Plus sites.
• First four Communities for Children Plus sites to be operational.
• States and Territories will report to COAG/CDSMC on reforms to their family support services and programs and negotiations between governments about aligning State and Territory support services with the Family Support Program.

Within first three years

• All eight Communities for Children Plus sites will be operational.
• All existing Communities for Children sites will be fully transitioned to the Family Support Program and will be delivering integrated services.
• The Family Support Program will be implemented.

Working together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Closing the gap

Supporting Outcome

5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities (Actions 2.1.B, 5.1.A and 5.2.B).

What/Action

Support Indigenous community-building activities in areas such as culture and connectedness, strengthening families and communities in targeted areas that put children at-risk, and speaking up about abuse.

When/How

First year

• Announcement of locations of all 35 Indigenous Children and Family Centres and linking of these centres to programs for at-risk children, such as the Family Support Program.
• Announcement of locations of 50 new Indigenous Parenting Support Services, with 32 operating by July 2010.
• Develop a workshop agenda, engaging with key Indigenous and other Closing the Gap stakeholders.
• Deliver the workshop in December 2009, as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family and Community Strengths Conference, to determine national priorities for Indigenous community based activities and child protection, using a strengths based approach.

Within first three years

• A plan will be developed on priorities for Indigenous children under the National Framework following the December 2009 workshop. The plan will build on the substantial work already underway as part of the Closing the Gap agenda.
• The majority of 35 Indigenous Children and Family Centre sites will be operating by December 2012, providing child care, early learning, and family support.
• All 50 Indigenous Parenting Support Services operating.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments will work with key Indigenous and other Closing the Gap stakeholders to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Seeing early warning signs and taking early action

Supporting Outcome

2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early (Action 2.2.C).

3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed (Action 3.5.B).

What/Action

Improve identification of early indicators of the needs of at-risk children and their families through a common approach to assessment, referral and support in universal and secondary prevention services, with appropriate information sharing.

Governments are working with the non-government sector to develop a common assessment tool/s and options for shared approaches to better identify and refer children at risk. This work is being done through the Common Approach to Assessment, Referral and Support (CAARS) Taskforce, which includes a broad spectrum of participation from government and non-government sectors.

When/How

First year

• CAARS Taskforce established in May 2009.
• Working groups established under the Taskforce to support technical aspects of this national priority and explore the cultural change implications that may arise from common assessment.
• Conduct literature review and focus group with stakeholders to inform development of a common assessment tool/s.
• Conduct workshops with stakeholders to explore implementation options.
• Agreed tool and trial options to be ready for approval by July 2010.

Within first three years

• Once the tool is developed it will be trialled and evaluated.

Working together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector will work together through the CAARS Taskforce to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Improving support for carers

Supporting Outcome

4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing (Action 4.2.A, 4.2.B and 4.2.F).

What/Action

Continue to explore options for improving financial and non-financial support to grandparent, kinship and foster carers, provide specialist supported playgroups for grandparent and other carers, and provide enhanced support for grandparent and kinship carers as a specified target group under the Communities for Children program.

When/How

First year

• The new Community and Family Partnerships Guidelines 1 July 2009 for children and parenting services (including Supported Playgroups and Communities for Children) include 'Indigenous families, including kinship carers' and 'grandparent carers' as specific target groups for all funding recipients.
• Negotiations will commence on the establishment of specialised supported playgroups for grandparent and other carers.
• Research scope determined and approach for improving overall support for carers agreed.
• A consultation process, including a targeted consultation with carers, will be undertaken and recommendations delivered in 2010.

Within first three years

• Once the findings of this work are announced, CDSMC will consider further action.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and non-government sector will work together, in consultation with carers across the Australian community, to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Developing national standards for out-of-home care

Supporting Outcome

4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing (Action 4.4.A.).

What/Action

The development of national standards for out-of-home care will aim to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people who are unable to live with their families. This priority will involve analysing relevant international and Australian literature, and consulting with key stakeholder groups to inform the development of new national standards. Current out-of-home care standards vary across jurisdictions and are not reported on consistently. This lack of consistency makes cross-jurisdictional data collection difficult and hampers the identification and development of best practice and service delivery gaps. COAG has agreed that nationally consistent standards for out-of-home care will benefit vulnerable children and young people.

When/How

First year

• Analysis of state, territory and international out-of-home care policies, practices and standards.
• Communicate and consult with key stakeholders, including State and Territory governments, non-government out-of-home care service providers, children and young people in out-of-home care and their families.
• Identify new standards, based on the analysis and consultation with key stakeholders by June 2010.

Within first three years

• New national standards are implemented.
• These national standards will be monitored and evaluated using an agreed reporting framework.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Building capacity and expertise

Supporting Outcome

3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed (Action 3.5.A. and 3.5.D.).

5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities (Action 5.3.A.).

What/Action

This priority has two distinct elements:

1. Support the education, professional development, and retention of the child protection and welfare workforce, including a focus on enabling the Indigenous workforce to be more actively involved in tertiary child protection.
2. The Commonwealth takes a broader human services definition of 'workforce' to look at ways that professionals in a range of fields can contribute to the protection of children, including with cultural sensitivity.

When/How

First year

• Working group formed, child protection and welfare workforce issues scoped and best practice identified.
• Best practice models in Indigenous child protection identified and strengths and barriers to child protection by Indigenous organisations identified.
• Report on education, development, and retention of the workforce produced.
• Report on Indigenous child protection workforce produced.
• Structural Issues in the Workforce - CDSMAC Community Services Workforce Profile Project final report considered.
• Professional development training program in child and family sensitive practice developed and trialled.
• Other development and training programs monitored for best practice and broader roll-out.
• Other Commonwealth workforce development reforms across disciplines influenced.

Within first three years

• National strategy implemented to develop the child protection and welfare workforce in the areas of education, recruitment, professional development and retention.
• A national strategy implemented to develop the Indigenous child protection and welfare workforce.
• Service delivery standards across disciplines developed.
• Promising multi-disciplinary training trials extended across selected socially disadvantaged sites, including Indigenous-specific sites
.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector will work together, through the Structural issues in the Workforce-CDSMAC sub-committee, to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Enhancing the evidence base

Supporting Outcome

4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing (Action 4.4.D.).

What/Action

The data collection priority will review and improve data collections relating to child protection, homelessness and juvenile justice to improve national reporting. This priority aims to enhance knowledge of children's interactions with the child protection system in order to inform future policy and service provision.

When/How

First year

• Begin the review of existing data definitions and unit record data for child protection (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in conjunction with States and Territories).
• Review of data collections.
• States and Territories to participate in data project and commit to improving data sets.
• Invite the Australian New Zealand Child Death Review and Prevention Group to submit a proposal to develop more consistent data to help better understand the circumstances of child deaths and how these could be prevented.

Within first three years

• After the roll-out of this national priority has been completed, CDSMC will consider future directions.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and non-government sector will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Filling the research gaps

Supporting Outcome

4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing (Action 4.4.E.) Note: this priority will contribute to all supporting outcomes in the National Framework.

What/Action

Develop a national research agenda in consultation with key academics and expert practitioners.

This aims to inform future policy and service delivery through the identification of research opportunities and priorities and an expanded evidence base in Australia.

When/How

First year

• Hold a workshop in October 2009 involving governments, key academics and the non-government sector to inform the direction of a national research agenda.
• Based on the outcomes of this workshop, develop a proposed national research agenda for approval.
• A national research agenda will be approved and under way by early 2010.

Within first three years

• A number of research projects under the national research agenda will be completed between early 2010 and June 2014.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, key academics, the non-government sector and children and young people will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Transitioning to independence

Supporting Outcome

4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing (Action 4.3.A.).

What/Action

To increase support through non-government organisations for young people leaving care to better establish their independence and for State and Territory government initiatives to better support young people as they leave care.

When/How

First year

• In July 2009, the Commonwealth Government increased the Transition to Independent Living Allowance for young people leaving care from $1,000 to $1,500.
• Commonwealth, State and Territory governments will consult with stakeholders to develop working arrangements to achieve consistency across Australia in the non-financial support that young people receive when leaving care.

Within first three years

• A review of the increase to the Transition to Independent Living Allowance will be conducted and reported on, to determine improved outcomes for young people leaving care.
• Work will continue on the development and implementation of nationally consistent approaches to support young people leaving care.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and non-government sector will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Responding to sexual abuse

Supporting Outcome

6: Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support (Action 6.2.B.).

What/Action

This priority undertakes research to present a national picture of therapeutic services to all Australian children including research, training, promising practice, gaps in service provision, and challenges within the sector.

When/How

First year

• Consultations have been held with key government and non-government agencies that provide specialised therapeutic responses to young people with sexualised behaviours.
• Undertake research to highlight service delivery challenges and identify initiatives that are working well.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and non-government sector will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Advocating nationally for children and young people

Supporting Outcome

1: Children live in safe and supportive families and communities (Action 1.3.A.).

What/Action

To explore the potential role for a national (Australian) Commissioner for Children and Young People.

When/How

First year

• Continuing consultation with key stakeholders, including existing State and Territory commissioners and guardians, State and Territory governments, and the community, particularly children themselves, on views and potential options for an Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People.
• Advice will be provided to the Commonwealth Government in late 2009.

Working Together

The Commonwealth, State and Territory Children's Commissioners and Guardians, and children and young people will work together to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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National Priority: Sharing information

Supporting Outcome

2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early (Action 2.2.B).

What/Action

Expand the information sharing protocol currently operating between Centrelink and child protection agencies to Medicare Australia and the Child Support Agency.

This will increase the sharing of appropriate Commonwealth information with State and Territory child protection agencies, and assist them to better protect children.

When/How

First year

• Approval of the Medicare Australia and Child Support Agency appendices to the information sharing protocol.
• Formal review of the information sharing protocol.
• Information sharing protocol between Medicare Australia, the Child Support Agency and State and Territory child protection agencies has been signed off.

Within first three years

• After first-year roll-out of the information sharing protocol, future directions will be considered, including expanding the information sharing protocol to other relevant Commonwealth agencies.

Working Together

The Commonwealth and State and Territory governments, through a CDSMC cross-jurisdictional information sharing working group, to take forward this action.

Measures

Performance indicators will be developed for national priorities, as outlined in Section 3.

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Major reforms

Major reforms are actions relating to broader social reform agendas that have an impact on Australian children and families. They include reforms in disability, housing and health, initiatives such as income management and Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2009-2021.

Many of these actions, such as mental health programs and housing and homelessness initiatives, address risk factors for child abuse and neglect. These actions are the responsibility of many portfolios across jurisdictions. A number are led by COAG Ministerial Councils. Due to their size and complexity they also involve cross-portfolio engagement.

While CDSMC will be monitoring all actions identified in the first three-year action plan, reporting on major reforms will be the primary responsibility of another governance mechanism such as another Ministerial Council, COAG or another mechanism altogether (for example, the Northern Territory Emergency Response is progressed through bilateral negotiations).

Although these actions would usually have existing consultative processes (which we will use, rather than duplicate), they still need to be approached as joint actions in order to be successful. CDSMC will generally take the role of supporting these actions, and reminding stakeholders and the broader community of their importance and links to other activities under the National Framework. Information about these actions can be found in Appendix A.

Ongoing initiatives for children and families

Ongoing initiatives for children and families generally refer to initiatives under way as part of Commonwealth or State and Territory government reforms of child protection systems, children's or family support programs. These initiatives often focus on early intervention. They are generally the work of one jurisdiction, have existing consultative mechanisms and are the responsibility of the relevant Minister in the relevant jurisdiction, with CDSMC playing a monitoring role.

As many of these actions identify areas where a number of jurisdictions are trying to reform in a similar direction, they can share resources and are valuable sources of information.

These actions, and any future reforms in this area, are critical to the success of the National Framework. They are often rolled out in partnership with the non-government sector, which has ongoing working relationships with both the Commonwealth and with the States and Territories through its representation on consultative forums.

Information about these actions can also be found in Appendix A.

Community initiatives

Community initiatives are actions initiated by the non-government sector, independent of government. They will have publicly described governance and consultative mechanisms, which have been set up by the organisation, and will be the responsibility of the non-government sector.

New Actions

Over the life of the National Framework's first three-year action plan, jurisdictions and organisations will introduce and implement new actions. A list of new actions that the Commonwealth has introduced is available at www.fahcsia.gov.au. New actions initiated by States and Territory governments and the non-government sector will be reflected on their respective websites.

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