FaHCSIA Internet > Subject Areas > Families & Children > Publications & Articles > Protecting Children > Appendices

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

Appendices

Appendix A: where to find more information on actions

Table A1: Major reforms
Strategy	Action	Further Information
Supporting outcome 2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early
2.2 Develop new information sharing provisions between Commonwealth agencies, State and Territory agencies and NGOs dealing with vulnerable families	2.2.A. Nationally consistent approach to working with children checks
2.3 Ensure consistency of support and services for all children and families	2.3.A. National approach to early childhood education and care
	2.3.C. National consistency in child and family health services	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
	2.3.D. National Perinatal Depression Plan	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
	2.3.E. Increase funding for disadvantaged schools	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (www.deewr.gov.au)
2.4 Enhance services and support for children and families to target the most vulnerable and protect children 'at-risk'	2.4.C. Evaluate income management trials in WA, NT and Cape York	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Centrelink (www.centrelink.gov.au)
	2.4.D. Comprehensive evaluation of family law reforms designed to strengthen family relationships	Australian Institute of Family Studies (www.aifs.gov.au) Attorney-General's Department (www.ag.gov.au)
	2.4.E. Expand access to mental health programs for children	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
2.5 Provide priority access to services for children who are at serious risk of abuse and neglect	2.5.A. Enhance access to childcare services for children at serious risk of harm- Special Childcare Benefit (SCCB) guidelines	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (www.deewr.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed
3.1 Enhance alcohol and substance abuse initiatives to provide additional support to families	3.1.A. National Binge Drinking Strategy	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
	3.1.B. Redesign the Strengthening Families Program	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
	3.1.C. Implement community based healthy lifestyle interventions in disadvantaged communities	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
3.2 Enhance programs which reduce family violence	3.2.A. Time for Action: The National Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
3.2 Enhance programs which reduce family violence	3.2.B. Expand models of integrated support to enable women and children experiencing family violence to remain at home safely	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
3.3 Increase services and support for people with mental illness	3.3.A. Develop a National Suicide Prevention Strategy	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
	3.3.C. Enhance support for children or parents with disabilities	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
3.4 Expand housing and homelessness services for families and children at-risk	3.4.A. Increase availability of affordable and social housing	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
	3.4.B. Targeted support to assist children and families who are homeless	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing
4.2 Support for grandparent, foster and kinship carers to provide safe and stable care	4.2.C. Support and services available for grandparent and kinship carers through Indigenous Child and Family Centres	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (www.deewr.gov.au)
	4.2.E. Healthcare needs of children entering and in out-of-home care	Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
4.3 Improve support for young people leaving care	4.3.C. Implement policy of 'no exits into homelessness'	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
4.4 Support enhanced national consistency and continuous improvement in child protection services	4.4.C. Support Australian New Zealand Child Death Review Group to develop more consistent data	Children and Young People and Child Guardian: QLD Government (www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
5.1 Expand access to Indigenous and mainstream services for families and children	5.1.B. Link 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres with the range of family and community programs for at-risk children and improve Indigenous access to child and maternal health services	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (www.deewr.gov.au)
5.2 Promote the development of safe and strong Indigenous communities	5.2.A. Support and strengthening of the Northern Territory Emergency Response	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 6: Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support
6.1 Raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online exploitation	6.1.A. Cyber-safety initiatives	Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (www.dbcde.gov.au) Australian Federal Police (www.afp.gov.au) Australian Communications and Media Authority (www.acma.gov.au)
6.2 Enhance prevention strategies for child sexual abuse	6.2.A. National framework for inter-jurisdictional exchange of criminal history for people working with children	Attorney-General's Department (www.ag.gov.au)
6.3 Strengthen law enforcement and judicial processes in response to child sexual abuse and exploitation	6.3.A. Detection, investigation and prosecution of online sexual exploitation	Australian Federal Police (www.afp.gov.au) Attorney-General's Department (www.ag.gov.au)

[ top ]

Table A2: Ongoing initiatives for children and families
Strategy	Action	Further Information
Supporting outcome 1: Children live in safe and supportive families and communities
1.1 Strengthen the capacity of families to support children	1.1.A. Continue to establish and support family and children's centres	DHCS:ACT (www.dhcs.act.gov.au) Queensland Government (www.communityservices.qld.gov.au) Children's Centres: SA Government (www.childrenscentres.sa.gov.au) Department of Education: TAS Government (www.education.tas.gov.au/childandfamily) DEECD: VIC Government (www.education.vic.gov.au)
	1.1.B. Refocus community programs within Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
	1.1.C. Improve family support services	Department for Communities: WA Government (www.community.wa.gov.au)
1.2 Educate and engage community about child abuse and neglect and strategies for protecting children	1.2.A. Support community organisations to deliver cost-effective, community-based initiatives	NAPCAN (www.napcan.org.au)
1.3 Develop and implement effective mechanisms for involving children and young people in decisions affecting their lives	1.3.B. Approaches through the Supporting Children After Separation Program to assist children from separating families	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
	1.3.C. Information booklet for children entering foster care	Cancer Council SA (www.acf.org.au)
	1.3.D. Improve experience of court processes for children	Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au)
	1.3.E. Participation of children in decision-making	Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People (www.gcyp.sa.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 2: Children and families access adequate support to promote safety and intervene early
2.1 Implement an integrated approach to service design, planning and delivery for children and families across the lifecycle and spectrum of need	2.1.B. Implement integrated, co-located child and family service models	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (www.deewr.gov.au) Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au) Child Safety: QLD Government (www.childsafety.qld.gov.au) ACT Health (www.health.act.gov.au) Department for Communities: WA Government (www.community.wa.gov.au) FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au)
2.3 Ensure consistency of support and services for all children and families	2.3.B. Quality assurance processes for registered community based child and family services and out-of-home care services	Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au)
2.4 Enhance services and support for children and families to target the most vulnerable and protect children 'at-risk'	2.4.B. Expand and/or target State and Territory support programs for vulnerable families and children at-risk	Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au) Department for Families and Communities: SA Government (www.dfc.sa.gov.au)
2.5 Provide priority access to services for children who are at serious risk of abuse and neglect	2.5.B. Alternative pathways for children at risk	Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au) Department for Families and Communities: SA Government (www.dfc.sa.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 3: Risk factors for child abuse and neglect are addressed
3.3 Increase services and support for people with mental illness	3.3.B. Personal Helpers and Mentors Program	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
3.5 Increase capacity and capability of: - adult- focused services to identify and respond to the needs of children at-risk - child-focused services to indentify and respond to the needs of vulnerable families - the broader system to identify children at-risk	3.5.C. Resources guide on responding to the needs of traumatised children	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Australian Childhood Foundation (www.childhood.org.au)
Supporting outcome 4: Children who have been abused or neglected receive the support and care they need for their safety and wellbeing
4.1 Enhance access to appropriate support services for recovery where abuse or neglect has occurred	4.1.A. Target the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Department of Health and Ageing (www.health.gov.au)
	4.1.B. Support community-based recovery programs for survivors of child abuse	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Adults Surviving Child Abuse (www.asca.org.au)
4.2 Support for grandparent, foster and kinship carers to provide safe and stable care	4.2.D. Support programs for grandparents, kinship and foster carers	Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au) Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au) Child Safety: QLD Government (www.childsafety.qld.gov.au)
4.3 Improve support for young people leaving care	4.3.B. State and Territory initiatives targeting young people as they leave care	Department of Health and Families: NT Government (www.health.nt.gov.au) DHCS:ACT (www.dhcs.act.gov.au)
4.4 Support enhanced national consistency and continuous improvement in child protection services	4.4.B. Continuous improvement of child protection services	Department for Families and Communities: SA Government (www.dfc.sa.gov.au) DHHS: TAS Government (www.dhhs.tas.gov.au) DHCS:ACT (www.dhcs.act.gov.au) Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au)
Supporting outcome 5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
5.1 Expand access to Indigenous and mainstream services for families and children	5.1.C. Support SNAICC to develop resources and materials	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
	5.1.D. Focus new activities in the Indigenous Family Violence Partnership Program and Indigenous Family Violence Regional Activities Program	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
5.2 Promote the development of safe and strong Indigenous communities	5.2.B. Continued support for Indigenous community building activities	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au)
5.3 Ensure that Indigenous children receive culturally appropriate protection services and care	5.3.B. Improve child protection service delivery for Indigenous families and children	Department for Community Services: NSW Government (www.community.nsw.gov.au) Department for Families and Communities: SA Government (www.dfc.sa.gov.au) Department of Education and Training: WA (www.det.wa.edu.au) MACCP (www.childprotectioncouncil.com.au) Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au) Department of Health: QLD Government (www.health.qld.gov.au)
	5.3.C. Strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle	Child Safety: QLD Government (www.childsafety.qld.gov.au) Department for Communities: WA Government (www.community.wa.gov.au) Office for Children - the Children's Guardian: NSW Government (www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au) Child Safety Commissioner: VIC Government (www.ocsc.vic.gov.au) Department of Education and Children's Services: SA Government (www.decs.sa.gov.au) Northern Territory Families (www.families.nt.gov.au) DHCS:ACT (www.dhcs.act.gov.au/)
Supporting outcome 6: Child sexual abuse and exploitation is prevented and survivors receive adequate support
6.1 Raise awareness of child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online exploitation	6.1.B. Community-based strategies to raise awareness in children, families and the community about child sexual abuse	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Australian Federal Police (www.afp.gov.au) Australian Communications and Media Authority (www.acma.gov.au) Brave Hearts (www.bravehearts.org.au) DHCS: ACT (www.dhcs.act.gov.au)
	6.1.C. Strategies to prevent sexual exploitation	Community: Information and Services for Australians (www.community.gov.au) Australian Federal Police (www.afp.gov.au)
6.4 Ensure survivors of sexual abuse have access to effective treatment and appropriate support	6.4.A. Support workshops for adult survivors of sexual abuse, partners and spouses	FaHCSIA (www.fahcsia.gov.au) Children Youth & Families: VIC Government (www.cyf.vic.gov.au)
	6.4.B. Review service delivery options and approaches for survivors	Heartfelt House (www.heartfelthouse.org.au)

Previous: Working together