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Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Families

Child Abuse Prevention


Introduction

The Australian Government is taking the lead with State and Territory Governments and the community sector to develop and implement a national framework for protecting Australia's children. We have consulted widely to ensure the framework is practical, action-focused and takes a holistic approach to child safety and wellbeing. To help with these consultations, a discussion paper was developed with input from key stakeholders, including State and Territory Governments and other experts and practitioners in child protection-related fields.

In Australia, State and Territory community service departments are responsible for statutory child protection.

The Australian Government, through the Department of Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), promotes best practice nationally in the areas of child abuse prevention and early intervention and prevention.

Across FaHCSIA, funding is provided for a range of programs, projects and/or measures that directly or indirectly assist in the prevention of child abuse.

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National framework for protecting Australia's children

The Commonwealth Government is greatly concerned about the protection of all children in Australia. While responsibility for statutory child protection services rests with State and Territory Governments, the Commonwealth Government is taking national leadership in this important area. The Commonwealth Government is developing a national framework for protecting Australia's children, recognising that the safety and wellbeing of all Australian children is an issue that demands the attention of all levels of government.

One of the aims of the national framework is to enable a more integrated response across governments and non-government organisations in a range of fields that impact on the wellbeing of children, young people and families. This includes exploring how the Commonwealth, States/Territories, and non-government sectors can use their resources more effectively and in a better coordinated way to improve the safety and wellbeing of children.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), has consulted widely to ensure the framework is practical, action-focused and takes a holistic approach to child safety and wellbeing. To help with these consultations, a discussion paper, Australia's children safe and well: a national framework for protecting Australia's children, was released by Minister Macklin in May 2008.

The paper, developed with input from key stakeholders, sought to canvass options from experts in the field and the broader community. Consultations have been held with State and Territory government agencies involved with child protection, with a range of community organisations, peak bodies and academics, and with people directly involved in child protection systems. Members of the public were also invited to provide comments and make suggestions about the framework.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will consider the National Child Protection Framework at its meeting in November 2008.
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National Child Protection Clearinghouse

The National Child Protection Clearinghouse is part of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

FaHCSIA funds the clearinghouse to disseminate information and evidence on child protection activities and research to professionals and organisations in this field. Among the clients of the clearinghouse are policy makers including State and Territory government departments responsible for family and community services, service providers, professionals in child abuse prevention, researchers and students.[ top ]

Other Initiatives to Safeguard Children

Across FaHCSIA, funding is provided for a range of programs, projects and measures that directly or indirectly assist in the prevention of child abuse such as:
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