ACWA conference August 2014
Place
Headline
Working
towardshere
a Common response
to child protection in an organisation with diverse frameworks,
values and legislative responsibilities
Bronwen Elliot Good Praxis
Jennifer Evans Red Cross
Challenges in engaging in a national conversation and practice
• Organisational context
• Boundaries of child and family work within the values
and principles of work of Red Cross
• Differing state/ territory legislative contexts
• Implementing the Policy – working in complex spaces
• Seeing children in all of our work
Key Influencers on organisational considerations
Child Protection Policy
2009 , 2011, 2013
& Substrategy
areas
14 Ways of
working
Research
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Stolen Generation report
Dropping off the edge- Vinson
Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological
model of development
Wicked problems
Strength based practice
Think child Think Family -Scott
•
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Organisational
renewal
Management
State
National
International focus
Government
Seven
Fundamental
principles
changes impacting
on service delivery
context :
Policy
Funding
Partnerships
Accreditation
Child Protection
legislative
changes
Reviews/Royal
Commissions
States/Teritories
National Policy context
Seven Fundamental Principles
• Humanity
Its purpose is to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding,
friendship, co-operation and lasting peace amongst all people.
• Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the
suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
• Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in
controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
• Independence
National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their
respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the
principles of the Movement.
• Voluntary service
Voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain
• Unity
Only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country, open to all & carry on its humanitarian work throughout its
territory.
• Universality
IRCRC movement -all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other
7 Priroity Areas
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Social Inclusion
Locational Disadvantage
Migrant Support
Emergency Services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and
partnerships
• Internal Humanitarian Law
• International Aid and Development
Child safe organisation: capacity building elements
Capacity Building initiatives are grouped according to the
following key elements:
1. Systems to ensure Adaptation, Innovation and Continuous
Improvement
2. Governance and Culture
3. Participation and Empowerment of Children
4. Human Resources Management
5. Education and Training
Community and Disability Service Ministers conference Creating Safe Environments for Children: National Framework Schedule A: Guidelines for
building the capacity of child safe organizations 2005
Child Protection Policy Journey
2009
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Management vested in HR
All staff required to notify
Child protection week annual campaigns
Recruitment screening
2011
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Child Safe contact officer roles, recruitment and training
HR policy manager and national cross portfolio implementation committee
National Orientation and Induction training review and roll out
Recruitment processes
2013
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Accountability broadened: Snr Leadership group
Appointment of Child Protection Project Lead whole of organisational Internal programs
International accreditation
Partnerships – contractors and sub contractor focus
Child protection code of conduct
Operates within S/T legislation
Recruitment processes and resources
New training framework
Ways of Working
1. Applying the Fundamental Principles 8. Advocating for vulnerable people
2. Working as auxiliary to government
and public authorities
3. Building on strengths
9. Valuing voluntary service
10. Focusing on areas of locational
disadvantage to help
build stronger communities
4. Focusing on prevention through early
intervention
11. Engaging young people
5. Working with partners and avoiding
duplication
6. Embracing community development
approaches
7. Acting on evidence
12. Embracing diversity
13. Ensuring gender is a key
consideration in everything we do
14. Acknowledging the impact of climate
change
Jurisdictional legislative differences
Jurisdictional legislative differences
Further developments
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Revised Child Protection Policy
Ways of Working with Children and Families
Internal training opportunities
Child support contact officers
National Project Lead, Child Protection
International scope, based on UN Convention
Key insights
• External factors
– Changing policy contexts
– Federated jurisdictional impacts in national organisation
– Government leadership: Impact of legislation and training and recourses
on workforce and organisational maturity;
• Implementation processes
• Visibility of children
• Unplanned consequences
• Organisational learning culture
Contact details
Bronwen Elliott Good Praxis Pty Ltd
Jennifer Evans, National Project Lead Child Protection jeevans@redcross.org.au
References
Australian Red Cross:
Australian Red Cross Strategy 2015: Working as One 2010
Inaugural vulnerability report: Inside the process of seeking asylum in Australia 2013
Change Growth and Renewal in Australian Red Cross 2013
External
ARACY 2013 NEST National Plan for child well being ARACY
Australian Institute of Family Studies 2014 Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect
Australian Centre for Child Protection 2010 - 2013 Protecting and Nurturing Children: Building Capacity, Building
Bridges is a project funded as part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)National Framework for Protecting Australia’s
Children
Commonwealth Government 2009 Protecting Children is Everyone's Business: National Framework for Protecting
Australia's Children 2009–2020 and subsequent 3 yr action plans
Community and Disability Service Ministers conference: 2005 Creating Safe environments for children: National
framework Schedule A Guidelines for Building the capacity of child safe organizations July 2005
Bromfield ,L., Lamont,A.,Parker,E.,Horsfall,B. 2010 Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children and families with
multiple and complex needs, the co occurrence of domestic violence, parental substance misuse and mental health
problems National Child Protection Clearing House No 33 2010
Commonwealth of Australia 2008 The Road Home A national approach to reducing homelessness Commonwealth of Australia
Fixsen,D., Blase,K.A.,Naoom.S.F.,Wallace,F. 2009 :Core Implementation Components, Research on Social Work Practice, 19 (5),531
-540
Gibson C 2010 Homelessness and child wellbeing Communities, Children and Families Australia v. 5 no. 1 May 2010: 35-45
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