The role of decision making in the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Australian child protection system

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 105019
Author(s):  
Paul H. Harnett ◽  
Gerald Featherstone
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Australian Child ◽  
Torres Strait

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle is about self determination

1999 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Ah Kee ◽  
Clare Tilbury
Keyword(s):  
Child Protection ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Australian Child ◽  
Child Placement ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Taking Action

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle has been the policy guiding the placement of indigenous children in most Australian child protection jurisdictions for around fifteen years. The Principle requires the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives in decision making concerning indigenous children, and ensuring that alternative care placements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander careproviders.Most Jurisdictions still have a significant number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children placed with non-indigenous careproviders, and community based Aboriginal and Islander child care agencies continue to express dissatisfaction about the nature and level of consultation which occurs when welfare departments are taking action to protect indigenous children.This paper, which was presented at the IFCO conference in Melbourne in July 1999, examines why there has been such limited improvement in Child Placement Principle outcomes. Work undertaken in Queensland to address the over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system will be outlined from both a departmental and community perspective. The paper argues that if strategies for addressing these issues are not located within a framework of self determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, then they will not work.

scholarly journals Working for the Welfare: Support and Supervision Needs of Indigenous Australian Child Protection Practitioners

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Fiona Oates ◽  
Kaylene Malthouse
Keyword(s):  
Child Protection ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Historical Experience ◽  
Australian Child ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
The Government ◽  
Depth Interviews

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are disproportionately represented in all parts of the child protection system in Australia. The recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners into child protection systems to work with Indigenous families at risk underpins the government strategy to reduce this over-representation. However, little is known about the experiences of Indigenous people who undertake child protection work or what their support and supervision needs may be. This research is centered on Indigenous Australian child protection practitioners as experts in their own experiences and as such includes large excerpts of their own narratives throughout. Practitioner narratives were collected via qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews. Critical theory and decolonising frameworks underpinned the research design. The study found that Indigenous child protection practitioners have a unique place in the families, communities and profession. Many viewed their work in the child protection field as an extension of their Indigeneity. This coupled with the historical experience of state-sanctioned removal of Indigenous children during colonisation and contemporarily, informs the need for child protection workplaces to re-think the support and supervision afforded to Indigenous practitioners.

Empirical Analysis of Clinical Evaluations on Children Involved in the Child Protection System: The Role of Age and Gender

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Felix ◽  
Anjali T. Naik-Polan ◽  
Christine Sloss ◽  
Lashaunda Poindexter ◽  
Karen S. Budd
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Clinical Evaluations ◽  
And Gender

Decision Making in Child and Family Social Work

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Selling Point ◽  
New Research

This book presents new research on the extent to which parents and children participate in decision making when childcare social workers are involved and it considers two key meetings in depth: child protection conferences and child in care reviews. There is currently a great deal of interest in how social workers can work more effectively with families and in particular give children a voice. There is also considerable public and media interest in the child protection system, in particular relating to how children are safeguarded by social workers. This book will argue that unless we listen to (and act upon whenever possible) the views of children it is very difficult to safeguard and offer them an effective service. The unique selling point of the book will be that it is based on original solid empirical research following interviews with multiple stakeholders across two local authorities in England including children (n=75), parents (n=52), social workers (n=11, independent reviewing officers (n=8) and senior managers (n=7). This book will consider how 10 years of austerity has impacted on the child protection system and it will have a particular focus on how current practice leads to children and parents often feeling oppressed and excluded in decision making about their lives. The book promises to be authoritative and informed on issues on the ground and very relevant to both policy and practice.

Learning from child protection Serious Case Reviews in England: A critical appraisal

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Frost
Keyword(s):  
Child Protection ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Current System ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Child Deaths ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
English Child ◽  
Relevant Regulation ◽  
The Impact

This article explores the key role of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) in the English child protection system. After exploring the relevant regulation and guidance it is argued that the impact of these reviews on the child protection system has been largely negative. Research and empirical data contradict the dominant narrative that the child protection system is ‘failing’. An alternative approach is proposed which would allow for learning from child deaths whilst avoiding the negative and damaging impact of the current system.

What constitutes ‘support’ for the role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health workforce?

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Watson ◽  
Jeanine Young ◽  
Margaret Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Overall Acceptability ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Use Of Health Services ◽  
Torres Strait Islander Health

As well as providing primary health care services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are known to significantly contribute to the overall acceptability, access and use of health services through their role of cultural brokerage in the communities within which they work. As such they are uniquely positioned to positively influence health improvements for this vulnerable population. This study sought to identify key areas that both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health professionals working within Indigenous communities felt were important in providing support for their roles. This group of workers require support within their roles particularly in relation to cultural awareness and capability, resource provision, educational opportunities, collaboration with colleagues and peers, and professional mentorship. What is known about the topic? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are known to significantly contribute to the overall acceptability, access and use of health services in the communities within which they work. As such they are uniquely positioned to positively influence health improvements for this population. What does this paper add? Through consultation with a sample of Indigenous child health workers and child health workers key areas necessary to provide support for the individuals working in these roles have been identified. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings from this study will inform policy and program development in order to more comprehensively support health workers in the community and contribute towards workforce development and satisfaction, recruitment and retention.

scholarly journals Attitudes and decision-making in the child protection system

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 2-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Delgado ◽  
Vânia S. Pinto ◽  
João M. S. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Rights Of The Child

In the contexts of family neglect or maltreatment, the State intervenes by safeguarding the development and well-being of the child or young person in danger. In more severe situations, the intervention may lead to the child’s removal from the family. The Portuguese Law on the Protection of Children and Young People in Danger (Law 142/2015 of September 8th) favours the placement of the child in a family environment, especially for children up to the age of six. Despite this, in Portugal, in 2015, 8 600 children were in out-of-home care, only 3.5% of which were placed in foster care, while the remaining children were in residential care. Therefore, one of the fundamental rights of the child – living in a family environment – is compromised in practice. This study aims to understand the decision-making process of 200 higher education students in domains related to child protection, and those of 200 professionals who are responsible for providing case assessments and recommendations for intervention in the Portuguese child protection system. Using the Child Welfare Attitudes Questionnaire (Davidson-Arad & Benbenishty, 2008, 2010), the study aimed to identify the participants’ attitudes regarding removal of at-risk children from home, reunification and optimal duration of alternative care, children’s and parents’ participation in the decision-making process, and assessment of foster care and residential care, with the purpose of promoting children’s development and well-being. We concluded that both sets of participants (professionals and students) can be divided in two groups, one which is pro-removal and the other, which is less so. In comparison with students, professionals less often favour the removal of the child and more often defend reunification. There are no significant differences among participants regarding their opinion about the role of foster and residential care, and the participation of the child in the decision-making process. However, professionals tend to support parents’ participation in the decision-making process more than students do. Finally, we present some implications of our findings for the practice of child protection.

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