Protecting Children is Everyone's Business

Implementing the NationalFramework

The National Framework is a 12-year overarching strategic framework for reform (2009-2012), supported by rolling three-year action plans identifying specific actions, responsibilities and timeframes for implementation.

The task of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Australian children is a long and difficult one. The action plans provide a staged approach to achieving the necessary reforms identified within the National Framework. They also allow governments to address current and emerging priorities, as resources permit. The Australian, State and Territory governments and nongovernment agencies are committed to working together to develop actions under these triennial plans, implementing key actions and reporting on progress.

Governance arrangements

A focus on broader early intervention and prevention across a range of areas which impact on the safety and wellbeing of children requires a move away from the traditional 'single agency' approach for the ongoing management and monitoring of the National Framework. The National Framework will require integrated governance arrangements that cut across government boundaries and include the non-government sector in order to plan and implement actions.

The Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference is responsible for the implementation of the National Framework. It will report annually to the Council of Australian Governments on progress on the first years, action plan and provide further action plans for consideration.

In addition, a Ministerial Forum on Protecting Australia's Children will be convened to bring together Ministers with responsibilities under the National Framework. This Ministerial Forum, hosted by the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference, will also invite contributions from non-government representatives, such as State and Territory Children's Commissioners and children and young people.

The Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference will continue to be supported by the officials' forum - the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Committee (CDSMAC) to manage the National Framework.

A tripartite National Framework Advisory Committee will be established to advise on the operation of the National Framework. This tripartite Committee will comprise CDSMAC officials with nominees from other sectors (such as health, education and justice) and non-government representatives (such as leading academics, practitioners and peak organisations). Children and young people are critical stakeholders who will need to be involved in this Committee through a relevant representative organisation.

Supporting the formal governance mechanisms will be a series of working groups, with members drawn from government and non-government organisations as appropriate. They will be asked to assist with the development and implementation of specific action areas or items.

Implementation Plan

With the release of the National Framework the Australian, State and Territory governments will work together to develop an Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will focus on the actions agreed to for the first three years and will outline their scope, resourcing and timing. The Implementation Plan will be developed within three months and considered by the Community and Disability Services Ministerial Advisory Committee at its August meeting.

The Implementation Plan will be a key tool in measuring progress of the National Framework. All jurisdictions and stakeholders will be able to monitor progress against activities and milestones outlined in the Implementation Plan. A set of performance indicators will be developed as part of the Implementation Plan, providing another opportunity to monitor progress and outcomes. Reporting processes for the National Framework will provide an opportunity to streamline existing reporting processes to ensure greater levels of transparency.

As part of the Implementation Plan the options for a periodic information symposium will be explored

Evaluation

At the conclusion of the first three year period (2012) the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference will seek an evaluation of the National Framework. Central to this evaluation will be the collection and analysis of data against the outputs and performance indicators identified in the Implementation Plan, as well as the progress and performance against each of the attached State and Territory action items.

The evaluation process will also draw from data collected and analysed in associated portfolio areas, such as early childhood, housing and health.

References

Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce (2006). Breaking the Silence: Creating the Future. Addressing Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities in NSW. Sydney: NSW Attorney General's Department.

Anderson, P., & Wild, R. (2007). Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle-Little Children are Sacred: Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse. Darwin: Northern Territory Government.

Atkinson, J. (2002). Trauma trails, recreating song lines: The transgenerational effects of trauma in Indigenous Australia. North Melbourne: Spinifex Press.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2009). Child Protection Australia 2007-08. Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006). Personal safety survey (reissue), Catalogue No. 4906.0. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Barber, J. G., & Gilbertson, R. (2001). Foster care: The State of the Art. Adelaide: Australian Centre for Community Services Research, Flinders University.

Berlyn, C., & Bromfield, L. M. (2009). Child protection and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. National Child Protection Clearinghouse Resource Sheet, 10. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov. au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs10/rs10.html

Boyd, C., & Bromfield, L. M. (2006). Young people who sexually abuse: Key issues. ACSSA Wrap, 3. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/w3.html

Bromfield, L. M. (2008). Ethical responses to vulnerable children and families. Paper presented at the Australian College of Child and Family Practitioners Conference 2008: Ethical responsiveness. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/presentations/2008/ethical.pdf

Bromfield, L. M., & Arney, F. (2008). Developing a road map for research: Identifying the priorities for a national child protection research agenda. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, 28. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues28/issues28.html

Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. J. (2005). National comparison of child protection systems. Child Abuse Prevention Issues 22, National Child Protection Clearinghouse at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues22/issues22.html

Bromfield, L. M., & Holzer, P. J. (2008). Protecting Australian children: Analysis of challenges and strategic directions. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/reports/cdsmac/protecting.pdf

Bromfield, L. M., & Miller, R. (2007). Specialist Practice Guide: Cumulative Harm. Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Human Services. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/ research/menu.html#spg

Bromfield, L. M., & Osborn, A. (2007). 'Getting the big picture': A synopsis and critique of Australian out-of-home care research. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, 26. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/ pubs/issues/issues26/issues26.html

Cashmore, J. A., & Paxman, M. (1996). Wards leaving care: A longitudinal study. Sydney: Department of Community Services.

Cashmore, J. A., & Paxman, M. (2006). Predicting after-care outcomes: The importance of 'felt security'. Child and Family Social Work, 11, 232-241.

Fleming, J Mullen, P Bammer, G. (1997). A study of potential risk factors for sexual abuse in childhood, Child Abuse and Neglect, 21, 1, 49-58.

Frederick, J., & Goddard, C. (2007). Exploring the relationship between poverty, childhood adversity and child abuse from the perspective of adulthood. Child Abuse Review 16(5), 323-341.

Gordon, S., Hallahan, K., & Henry, D. (2002). Putting the picture together: Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities. Western Australia: Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Healey, J. (ed 2005), Child sexual abuse. Thirroul, NSW: Spinney Press.

Higgins, D. J. (2007). Cooperation and Coordination: An evaluation of the Family Court of Australia's Magellan case-management model. Canberra: Family Court of Australia. Retrieved from www.aifs. gov.au/institute/pubs/magellan/index.html

Higgins, D. (2005) Early Learnings Research Report, vol. 2. Melbourne: Telstra Foundation. Available at www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/reports/telstra2/telstra2.html

Higgins, D. J., & Katz, I. (2008). Enhancing service systems for protecting children: Promoting child wellbeing and child protection reform in Australia. Family Matters, 80, 43-50.

Holzer, P. J. (2007). Defining the public health model for the child welfare services context. Resource Sheet no. 11. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs11/rs11.html

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1997). Bringing Them Home.

Irenyi, M., Bromfield, L. M., Beyer, L. R., & Higgins, D. J. (2006). Child maltreatment in organisations: Risk factors and strategies for prevention. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, 25. Retrieved from www. aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues25/issues25.html

Jeffreys, H., Hirte, C., Rogers, N & Wilson, R. (2009). Parental Substance Misuse and Children's Entry into Alternative Care in South Australia. Adelaide: Government of South Australia, Department for Families and Communities.

Maunders, D., Liddell, M., Liddell, M., & Green, S. (1999). Young people leaving care and protection: A report to the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.

McHugh, M. (2002). The costs of caring: A study of appropriate foster care payments for stable and adequate out-of-home care in Australia. New South Wales: NSW Association of Children's Welfare Agencies Inc.

Mendes, P., & Moslehuddin, B. (2006). From dependence to interdependence: Towards better outcomes for young people leaving State care. Child Abuse Review, 15, 110-126.

Morrison, Z. (2006). Results of the Personal Safety Survey 2005. Aware ACSSA Newsletter 13, 9-14. Retrieved from: www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/newsletter/acssa_news13.pdf

National Child Protection Clearinghouse (2008). Quick summary of evidence for key risk factors for different forms of child abuse and neglect. Retrieved from www.aifs.gov.au/nch/bib/risk.html

Neave, M., Friedman, N., Langan, A., & Little, H. (2004). Chapter 10: Dealing with juvenile sexual offenders Victorian Law Reform Commission Sexual offences: Final report. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer.

O'Donnell, M., Scott, D., & Stanley, F. (2008). Child abuse and neglect - is it time for a public health approach? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 32(4), 325-330. Robertson, B. (2000). The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Task Force on Violence

Report. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development.

SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision), Report on Government Services 2009, Productivity Commission, Canberra, January 2009.

Scott, D. (2006). Towards a public health model of child protection in Australia. Communities, Children and Families Australia, 1(1), 9-16.

Scott, D. (2008). 'Towards a public health model of child protection', extract from presentation to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Congress, Adelaide, May 2008.

Scott, D. (2009). Think child, think family: How adult specialist services can support children at-risk of abuse and neglect. Family Matters, 81, 37-42.

Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (Eds.). (2001). From neurons to neighbourhoods: The science of early childhood development (2nd edn). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Silburn, S. R., Zubrick, S. R., Lawrence, D. M., Mitrou, G. G., DeMaio, J. A., Blair, E., et al. (2006). The intergenerational effects of forced separation on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people. Family Matters(75), 10-17.

Siminski, P., Chalmers, J., & McHugh, M. (2005). Foster carers in New South Wales: Profile and projections based on ABS Census data. Children Australia, Children Australia (30) 17-240.

Stanley, J., Tomison, A. M., & Pocock, J. (2003). Child abuse and neglect in Indigenous Australian communities. Child abuse prevention issues, 19. Retrieved from www.aifs.org.au/nch/issues/ issues19.html

Stronger Families Learning Exchange (2002). Early intervention and prevention: The evidence base underpinning family and community policy. Bulletin, 1, 5. Retrieved April 2009 from www.aifs.gov. au/sf/pubs/bulletin1.html

Van der Kolk, B. (2003). The neurobiology of childhood trauma and abuse. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, (12) (2), 293-317.

Wood, J. (2008). Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW: Volumes 1-3. Sydney: State of NSW through the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.

[ top ]