NATIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS
Background
The National Framework provides a broad overarching platform for Australia’s approach to child
protection up to 2020. The national priority areas provide the major focus for Commonwealth, states
and territories for the first three years.
National priorities are actions under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
(the National Framework) that will be a major focus for the Australian Government, state and territory
governments and the non-government sector in the first three years.
There are 12 national priority projects under the national framework and these have varying
timeframes, deliverables and milestones as well as varying levels of complexity. Some continue and
build on existing work and some are new projects to be delivered over the first three years.
The National Framework Implementation Working Group (NFIWG) has been formed under, and will
report to, the Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Advisory Council (CDSMAC). The role of
the NFIWG includes progressing implementation and delivery of action under the National Framework,
with a particular focus on national priorities.
The 12 national priority projects include:
1.
Joining Up Service Delivery
The implementation of a joined up approach to service design, planning and delivery, targeted to the
hard to reach, most disadvantaged families and children by leveraging services and support from
Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
2.
Closing the Gap
Support Indigenous community-building activities in areas such as: culture and connectedness;
strengthening families and communities in targeted areas that put children at-risk; and encourage
speaking up about abuse.
3.
Seeing Early Warning Signs and Taking Early Action
Improve identification of early indicators of the needs of at-risk children and their families through a
common approach to assessment, referral and support in universal and secondary prevention services,
with appropriate information sharing.
4.
Improving Support for Carers
Continue to explore options for improving financial and non-financial support to grandparent, kinship
and foster carers, provide specialist support playgroups for grandparent and other carers, and provide
enhanced support for grandparent and kinship carers as a specific target group under the Communities
for Children program.
5.
Developing national standards for out-of-home care
Development of National Standards for Out-of-Home Care through collaboration
Commonwealth, state and territory governments and non-government organisations, to ensure
Secretariat, Queensland National Framework Intergovernmental Working Group
Child and Family Policy
Phone (07) 324 76255
Email joanne.miller@communities.qld.gov.au
across
consistent, standards of care for children and young people. These standards will also enable data to
be collected and compared nationally.
6.
Building capacity and expertise
To support the education, professional development, and retention of the child protection and welfare
workforce, including a focus on enabling the Indigenous workforce to be more actively involved in
tertiary child protection.
That the Commonwealth take a broader human services definition of ‘workforce’ to look at ways that
professionals in a range of fields can contribute to the protection of children, including with cultural
sensitivity.
7.
Enhancing the evidence base
The data collection priority will review and improve data collections relating to child protection,
homelessness and juvenile justice to improve national reporting. This priority aims to enhance
knowledge of children’s interactions with the child protection system in order to inform future policy and
service provision.
8.
Filling the research gaps
Develop a National Research Agenda, including research priorities, to underpin the National
Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020.
9.
Transitioning to independence
Increase support through non-government organisations for young people leaving care to establish
their independence. Continue and improve state and territory initiatives targeting young people as they
leave care.
10.
Responding to sexual abuse
Investigate options for best practice therapeutic programs for children displaying sexually abusive
behaviours. Children are protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse through targeted
prevention strategies, and survivors are supported by the community, and through specific therapeutic
and legal responses.
11.
Advocating nationally for children and young people
Explore the potential role for a national (Australian) Commissioner for Children and Young People was
canvassed in the discussion paper, Australia’s Children: Safe and Well, released in May 2008.
In subsequent consultations to develop the National Framework For Protecting Australia’s Children, a
number of stakeholders, including non-government organisations and the general public, called for the
introduction of a National Commissioner for Children and Young People to champion and advocate for
the rights and wellbeing of children.
12.
Sharing Information
Expand the national protocol for information sharing to Medicare Australia, and the Child Support
Agency. Investigate options to expand the information sharing protocol to include the Department of
Immigration and Citizenship and the Family Court.