Why is the Australian Government proposing a national framework?

The Australian Government has proposed a national framework for protecting children because the safety of children is a responsibility for all levels of government and for all Australians. National leadership is required for this important policy area. The Australian Government’s aim in developing the framework is to help ensure better outcomes for all Australian children. The framework is not about removing responsibility from Australian families or duplicating resources.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies has pointed out that it is a difficult task to describe the child protection system in Australia as there is not one unified system but eight different systems.¹² While the models of intervention are very similar, the different legislative and operational frameworks result in a great deal of variability across the country. Common definitions, standards and monitoring could deliver improvements in child protection systems.

In November 2007, a Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children was formed to work with governments on a national child protection framework. The Coalition, made up of researchers and organisations providing services for vulnerable children, young people and families has met with the Australian Government and provided initial input to the development of this discussion paper.

The role of the national framework is to enable a more integrated response across governments and non-government organisations to ensure that Australian children can live in safe and caring environments. It should articulate roles and responsibilities more clearly. State and Territory Governments have clear statutory responsibilities in the area of child protection, and are best placed to make individual case decisions. Non-government organisations have a key role in providing support to Australian families. Through the national framework for protecting children, the Australian Government can improve the way its agencies, payments and programs interact with each other and with State and Territory Governments, and other non-government service and welfare organisations to strengthen our child protection systems.

Key areas proposed for inclusion in the framework will therefore be those where:

common issues cut across jurisdictions and would benefit from common responses;
there is room to improve connection and coordination across various parts of the system, for example between primary, secondary and tertiary interventions;
a national approach to a particular issue would ensure better use of resources; or
the Commonwealth can make use of its policies and programs to ensure children are better protected.

Bromfield L, & Higgins D, (2005) National Comparison of Child Protection Systems, AIFS Issues No22

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