bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposals for Legislative Changes in Relation to Neglected Children and Child Offenders in Tasmania
Authors: Kate Warner LL. M.
Published: March 2016

All the Australian states are either in the process of or have completed reviews of their child welfare legislation. The Australian Law Reform Commission has also completed its report on the reform of the child welfare laws. In Tasmania the Report of the Committee of Review into the Child Welfare Act 1960 and Social Welfare Services (the Roe Report) was tabled in December 1980. The following comments are directed to the two parts of the report dealing with children in need of care and children’s courts and young offenders. A draft bill is in the process of preparation incorporating the substance of these proposals.

Those who looked forward to proposals which seek to meet the criticisms of the welfare approach to juvenile offenders and the assimilation of offenders and deprived children have been disappointed. The report proposes the development of a community welfare orientation by seeking to change the emphasis from remedial institutional services to preventative community based services, but it fails to deal with other fundamental criticisms of the existing system. The failure to reduce crime through the criminal justice system, the hypocrisy injustice and subjectivity of the welfare approach and the ambivalence and confusion inherent in the existing system are not adequately resolved.
Child Abuse And Neglect: A Report on Seven Demonstration Projects
Authors: Ahearn Frederick L.
Published: March 2016

The author presents the results of an experimental program initiated for the purposes of providing comprehensive psychiatric assistance to abused and neglected children and their families. Designed jointly by Massachusetts’ U.S.A. Departments of Mental Health and Social Services, the projects are also a demonstration of interagency case collaboration. The paper briefly describes the program philosophy, service delivery strategy, and staffing pattern. Through analysis of data of 332 families and 1,118 individuals treated in the first year, profiles of the abusing/neglecting family, their children, and the adult perpetrator of the situation are developed. Implications for mental health care, the cooperative endeavours of mental health and child welfare agencies, and difficulties in measuring treatment outcomes of this population are discussed.
Beyond Permanency Planning
Authors: Maluccio Anthony N. , Fein Edith , Hamilton Jane , Klier Jo Lynn , Ward Darryl
Published: March 2016

With permanency planning taking the spotlight increasingly in the field of foster care, i t becomes urgent to examine the definition of permanency, the effect on practice, and the implications for service delivery.
Proposed Ethical Guidelines for Work in the Human Services
Authors: Pilcher Ann J. , Sundberg Norman D.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this article is to set forth some ethical practice guidelines for human service workers with less than professional qualifications.’ The growing awareness of social, behavioural and mental health problems in our society ranging from hyper-active children who cannot read to depressed housewives who cannot cope, has resulted in the need for more personnel in the human service fields. Increasingly, the helping professionals have been aided and abetted in their work by a growing number of aids or assistants who work undertheirdirection inthefields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, the ministry, the law and vocational and educational counselling. Sometimes referred to as the “new careers worker” (Golann and Eisdorfer: 1972) or the “new professional” (Dugger: 1975), such workers may have some preparation, some on-the-job staff development, but will have less than the traditional professional training. Among these workers are many individuals, mostly women who are utilized for their nurturing, home-making skills so important in residential settings for children and in foster homes. There are also workers who are indigenous to low-income or minority group areas who possess important knowledge for promoting programs and special skills at case finding. (Pearl and Reissman: 1965) In addition there are volunteers of all kinds, including former clients, working in both conventional and atypical agencies. Honorary Probationary Officers alone number approximately 900 in Victoria in 1980 and constitute a major support for individuals on probation. All of these workers face, just as professionals do, complex and ambiguous ethical questions.
Taking the Fear Out of Investigations
Authors: Sprague Paul L.
Published: March 2016

In 1970 a medical student walked out of an examination room in a Radiology Department of a large teaching hospital saying, “I think that is barbaric, holding down a screaming child to have a bladder x-ray”. At the time I thought she was over-reacting. After all, the child needed to have an x-ray examination of the bladder (MCU) and a kidney x-ray (IVP) to assess whether there were any organic abnormalities predisposing her two urinary infections with possible renal damage.

Some time later a mother returned to her referring paediatrician with a very distorted account of what had happened to her three year old daughter undergoing an x-ray examination of the bladder and kidneys.
Children’s Psychological Rights: An Empirical Study
Authors: Nixon Mary
Published: March 2016

As a contribution to the International Year of the Child, an International Colloquium in School Psychology adopted a Declaration of the Psychological Rights of the Child in July, 1979.
Pot Pourri
Authors: Blacher Yehudi
Published: March 2016

The “Children and the Family” forum, jointly sponsored by the Victorian Child Development and Family Services Council and the Institute of Family Studies, was held at the Community Welfare Training Institute, Melbourne, on Tuesday, 31 March 1981.

It was attended by approximately 140 people – representatives of both State and Federal government departments as well as a plethora of voluntary agencies and research organisations involved in the provision and evaluation of child and family services.
Financial Arrangements within Families: Empirical Results and Tax Implications
Authors: Edwards Meredith
Published: March 2016

Notes for Talk at Conference on Women and Taxation Organised by United Nations Association of Australia Melbourne 12-14 June 1981

Last year, on behalf of the National Women’s Advisory Council, I undertook an exploratory survey to obtain information on the ways in which married couples arrange their financial affairs. Much of social policy is based on the assumption that husband and wife pool their income and that the welfare of an individual family member can be determined by reference to total family income irrespective of its source. This assumption is convenient to policy makers and social analysts which is a probable reason for its perpetuation. But this does not justify its continued use in the absence of supporting evidence. The survey was motivated by a concern that social policy decisions, which at present are made on largely intuitive grounds, should, rather, be based on facts about the extent to which families pooled income and shared in its benefits.
Fostercare Policy & Practice in Sweden: What lessons are there for Australia?
Authors: Richardson Kathryn
Published: March 2016

This paper is a study of foster care in Sweden, and considers foster care practice in the light of research findings. The paper raises useful questions for child welfare practitioners in Australia. The author herself identifies some of the current issues in Australian Child Welfare practice. As the author notes, the difficulty of obtaining Australia wide statistics of child care leaves us with the potential of many gaps in our knowledge.
Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria: New Financial Reporting System [Part 1]
Authors: Withers Graham J.
Published: March 2016

It has been known for years in the residential child care field voluntary agencies are severely handicapped by the fact that the way one agency records its income and expenditure is quite different from the next agency. The most immediate effect is that since little sense can be made of what it really costs to keep a child in care, it is virtually impossible to organize a case as to how current government subsidies should be varied which will convince ourselves, much less the Victorian State Treasury.

In 1974 – 75, notwithstanding this limitation, the Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria (C.W.A.V.), through its “Survival Committee”, was able to negotiate substantial and largely positive changes to the then subsidy system, although limitations in what was developed were obvious before the new scheme was implemented. It must be recognized, however, that the “Survival Committee” belongs to another era. Here are just a few reasons why:
Returning to school after Burn Injuries
Authors: Gilijohann Anne
Published: March 2016

A child's schooling is a vital aspect of his life and his adjustment to school indicates his probable future adaptation and adjustment to life. The child who receives severe burns and requires hospitalisation, frequently faces difficulties in returning to school and resuming his former place in his peer group. Active intervention at the local school by hospital staff may ease the return to school and assist the child to overcome these difficulties.
The Problem of Judgement in Adoption Social Work
Authors: Close Diana
Published: March 2016

This paper tries to demonstrate how the existing practice in adoption social work, when applied to applicants and prospective parents, is inadequate, unjust and diametrically opposed to the acknowledged professional ethics and values. As dissatisfaction alone is unproductive, an alternative is proposed to the existing practice based on a Social Change Model of generic social work.
Personal Services Assistance after the Sydney Floods of August 1986
Authors: Rowlands Allison
Published: March 2016

In New South Wales, the State Disaster Welfare Plan provides the structure for disaster relief and the co-ordination of both government and non-government bodies. The plan provides for a Personal Services and Welfare Information subcommittee in each regional or local area, responsible for assistance to individuals, groups and communities. This can be of a personal (e.g. counselling, referral) and information (e.g. dissemination, publicity, meetings) nature. Separate subcommittees are responsible for accommodation, clothing, catering and registration in the immediate post-disaster phase.

The New South Wales Government also provides assistance to families who have suffered material losses in bushfires or floods, though a Relief Scheme, administered by the Department of Youth and Community Services and the Bushfire/Flood Relief Committee. The department is divided into ten regions throughout the state.
Pre Term Families — Visitors or Colleagues
Authors: Lloyd Libby
Published: March 2016

Preterm birth is a crisis for both baby and family. The long term outcome for both will be greatly influenced by the families’ ability to move from the grief and impotence associated with the loss of expected full-term parenthood through to active involvement as a preterm parent and eventual acceptance of parenthood.

The families' experience of the crisis is described for both normal and special situations. The implications for staff and family of more active participation of the family are discussed and some methods of involving the family are described.
Emergent Perspectives in Child Care
Authors: Ainsworth Frank
Published: March 2016

This paper will focus on four inter-related areas which it is considered are indicative of emergent trends in the child welfare field, The areas to be discussed are advances in our understanding of child development; how these advances link to social policy issues; factors influencing the delivery of services and finally some training issues which arise from all of these items.

These issues are discussed with a hope to maintain both an historical and comparative perspective, in relation to alternative child welfare systems.
New Financial Reporting System ~ Part II
Authors: Withers Graham
Published: March 2016

The first part of this article, describing the financial reporting system, the Children's Welfare Association of Victoria has developed for Victorian Child Welfare Agencies, explained the motivation in setting the system up, the objectives and achievements of the system, and gave some broad information about funding proposals that have stemmed from the analysis of financial data through the system.
Preventive Home Visiting
Authors: Rainey Joy , Murphy Greg
Published: March 2016

Forty first-time mothers were randomly allocated to two groups, half who received the service of a home visitor and half who did not. The home visitor commenced visitation during the last month of pregnancy and continued until the baby was three months old, visiting or contacting the mother approximately once weekly. Pre and post measures of self-esteem, anxiety, locus of control and acceptance were taken, the only significant difference between the treated and the control group was a lower trait anxiety in the target group. However, the other results were in the predicted direction. While all of the mothers requested the service, those mothers who received the service stated they valued it highly. Three mothers in the target group were identified as being “at risk” and received appropriate treatment; they had not been located by any of the health services with whom they were in contact. The present study raised a number of issues associated with the delivery of such primary prevention services, particularly the need for more adequate program evaluation.
‘Child Maltreatment Policy — Victorian Style’ or Can the Tortoise-Crab Hybrid ever be changed into a more functional Animal?
Authors: Boss Peter
Published: March 2016

Some people may wonder at the alternative title of this paper. I selected it after considering a number of specimens of the animal world. I could have used the sloth which seems to spend its life hanging upside down, asleep; or I could have used the analogy of any one of the dinosaurs which, as you know, tended to be huge and died when they could not adapt to changing environments. I chose a hybrid made up of tortoise and crab … the tortoise because it is cumbersomely slow and has a hard, seemingly impenetrable shell; the crab because it moves sideways on and has a tendency to devour its parents.
A Computerised Accounting System for Welfare Agencies
Authors: Withers Graham
Published: March 2016

To many accountants the idea that welfare agencies would require computerised accounting may seem incongruous. However, Children's Welfare Association of Victoria have found, as a welfare field response to the standardised financial reporting system that they developed during 1981/82, that the need for such a system is clearly established. This mainly resulted from the focus of the reporting system on functional accounting which had not been addressed fully by many welfare agencies prior to the implementation of this system. In 1982 the Victorian State Government expressed a clear commitment to programme budgetting for all Government departments and as the voluntary child welfare field is heavily reliant on Government funding, it is expected that all agencies will need to respond to this commitment as if they were Government organisations. Programme budgetting needs as its base, a clear functional classification of income and expense. Therefore, the need for this form of accounting has become more obvious over the last twelve months.
Children's Rights
Authors: Frederico Margarita
Published: March 2016

Child focus does not necessarily imply children's rights. For a child's rights to be exercised, the child must be seen in the context of his or her family and community, and hence the parents’ rights must also be respected. Recognition of children's rights by default rather than affirmative action leaves open the possibility that the child's rights may not be adhered to.
A Current Issue in Adoption: The Single Adoptive Parent
Authors: Harper Juliet
Published: March 2016

This paper addresses itself to the topic of the single adoptive parent, a relatively new phenomenon in the adoptive process in Australia. It presents a review of the available research and a critical discussion of some of the pertinent issues raised by a consideration of this area. Brief comment is made about the current Australian scene and it is concluded that with caution, placement of children with single adoptive parents could be made on a routine basis.
Uncle Bob's Club Child Development Centre
Authors: Rounsevell Barbara
Published: March 2016

In this International Year of the Disabled Person, the needs of all persons with a disability are being look at more critically, but perhaps the general public is more aware of adults with a disability, than of young children. Young children with disabilities are not a vocal group as such, although their parents are becoming increasingly vocal and banding together into effective Action Groups. Young children with disabilities may be thought to be “cute”, and the general public is relieved that they have parents who are responsible for them. But those same children experience acute frustrations, and their parents experience chronic grief because their child is unable to lead a normal life. Many find it necessary to expend a tremendous amount of time and emotional effort on the physical care and intellectual stimulation of their child, and in many cases, the increased financial demands can be critical for the family budget.
Systems for Managing Child Maltreatment in Australia: A Study of the Six States
Authors: Boss Peter
Published: March 2016

Child abuse constitutes a social problem whose dimensions we cannot yet quite grasp and whose causes are as multi-faceted as they are difficult to identify. Over the past two decades or so, ever since the re-awakening of interest in the topic, there has been an abundance of theorising and speculating about causes of child abuse. Theories which attempt to explain child abuse have ranged from the individual - psychological and specific deviant behaviour (like alcoholism and other types of addiction) - to socio-economic factors, faulty child-parent relationships, lack of family support resources and many more. Each of these theories, even if underdeveloped, has something to contribute to our understanding but none, by itself, has enabled us to say that if only we concentrate our resources on it we will be able to tackle child abuse at its very roots. What we have begun to learn is that we are dealing with a complex situation.
Parental Involvement in Foster Family Care
Authors: Maluccio Tony , Whittaker J. K.
Published: March 2016

Parental involvement has become a cornerstone of the movement to promote permanency planning for children and youth who are placed - or at risk of placement - out of their homes. Foster family care in particular provides many opportunities for effective involvement of biological parents in child welfare practice. Following consideration of the rationale and purposes of parental involvement, this article focuses on implications and guidelines for promoting optimal participation of biological parents.
Some Observations on the Themes of IYY 85 – Part 2
Authors: Owen Lloyd
Published: March 2016

Participation is about young people:

- having the right to make decisions about their own lives and the things that are important to them

- having the skills to make these decisions and carry them through

- having a meaningful say in family, school, work, Government, and in other aspects of their lives. (IYY 85 Brochure)

As the young person moves up the age scale from 12 to 25 it is a reasonable expectation that his or her grip will be tightening on the full range of adult rights and responsibilities. The young person will also be letting go special rights and responsibilities pertaining to childhood. Hopefully this new independence and these new obligations will be welcomed and successful completion of the developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence will leave, more often than not, positive feelings toward self and life in general.
Child Welfare Legislation in Denmark: Trends in Child Welfare over the Past Decade
Authors: Thomas Kay L.
Published: March 2016

This paper deals with the Danish Child Welfare Law, which was passed in 1974 as part of an integrated welfare law aiming at decentralization of decision making in local government, and maximum citizen participation.

The law provides for counselling, recommendations and injunctions in connection with counselling, appointment of personal guidance officers, and taking children into care. The greater part of decision making is made in co-operation with parents. The few cases of removal of a child from the home without parental consent are conducted under the auspices of the local council welfare committee, presided over by a judge. Parents are given access and must be heard. Parents have wide rights of appeal.
Towards A Residential Treatment Programme for Emotionally Disturbed Children
Authors: Mertin Peter , Baxter Richard M.
Published: March 2016

The idea that children whose parents are unable or unwilling to care for them within the familial home should be cared for by the state or voluntary organisation, in small groups by adults who share their lives with the children, has gained considerable currency in the last two decades. (Ainsworth and Fulcher, 1981). However, although now widely accepted in principle, a uniform implementation of group care for children has been slow due to a number of factors.
Some Facts and Fancies About Child Abuse
Authors: Boss Peter
Published: March 2016

The main purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the phenomenon of child abuse. It is intended to present some of the main facts and findings insofar as they have emerged in clinical and empirical work as well as some of the speculations which are enmeshed in such work. Additionally it is the intention to place the topic into a wider socio-cultural context which must inevitably involve some comment on political and economic factors. Perhaps it should be added that having embarked on such a global approach this paper cannot do more than act as an introduction to the topic of child abuse. This however may serve as a means by which interest is aroused in it and concern shared over a phenomenon which is an embarrassment to any civilised society. This concern has been rekindled over the past decade. The use of the word “rekindled” is deliberate since the literature of the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. has, to my knowledge, not really ceased to cover this topic since the great debates and activities surrounding the formation of societies for the protection of children in both countries toward the close of the last century. More recently however, clinicians, particularly in America, pointed the way to a revival of concern in the causation of non-accidental injuries to young children and equally important, have generated an interest in prevention and generally management of the problem.
Family Violence “Social fact Legal Responsibility”
Authors: Bates Frank
Published: March 2016

On Wednesday February 25th 1976, a Joint Committee of both Houses of the English Parliament was set up to consider the whole matter of intra-familial violence. This development is, it is suggested, of very considerable significance because it marks, really for the first time, an official awareness of the phenomenon of violence in the family. Clearly, certain aspects of the matter have received parliamentary attention, but this is the first time in jurisdictions analogous to Australia that a total overview of the matter has been attempted. Accordingly, it is the purpose of this article to consider the problem from an Australian point of view and to suggest policies which might adequately protect the victims of such violence.
Parenting The Complex Task
Authors: Cox Audrey
Published: March 2016

Adequate Parenting and child rearing are learnt through experience — the parents own experience of being parented. It is not a skill easily gained from instruction in classes! I once read that kids need three things — “love”, “limits”, and “letting go”, and from my years of experience in working with families who manifested their distress through the abuse and neglect of their children, I believe that these parents are unable to love, limit and let go. I found that these three L's were also important in looking at ways of helping the parents themselves.
A Child’s Heart: A Psychological Study
Authors: Cramer Jennifer
Published: March 2016

‘A Child’s Heart’ is a short story written by Herman Hesse concerning an eleven year old boy. As an account, in the first person, of the child’s emotions it provides an insight into child development.

The child, for reasons unknown to himself, stole dried figs from his father’s study on finding his father absent. There followed manifold expressions of guilt such as misery, remorse and resentment. Hesse describes his attitude toward his father as one of “reverence and rebellion” which “contested in my overladen heart.”
Child Welfare: Reception Centres, Regionalization, and Deinstitutionalization
Authors: Tierney Len , McDowell Meryl
Published: March 2016

Between 1972 - 1980, eighteen regional offices were opened by state welfare authorities in Victoria, with the long term prospect that a comprehensive set of programmes would be developed in each region. This is part of an extensive policy change in which the reception of children into care will proceed by more diverse and local arrangements. Safe custody options already include small residential units and foster care and the very term “reception centre” is no longer part of official language. Substantial progress has been made along these lines and of the two central reception centres, Allambie (25-150 residents) is in the process of being closed and Baltara (45-70 residents) is to be redeveloped. In the most recently published planning documents redevelopment of these facilities had been anticipated by December 1990.1 However, not a great deal is known about the population of these two centres, about reception processes and why some children proceed quickly through the process and others do not. This paper examines the present status of reception centres in Victoria and reports upon a preliminary study of the reception centre population for the period 1986-1987. An argument is made that there is a case for revising reception policy and practice not only in existing centres but, in proposed new facilities and for giving more attention to services, for children and families who present with unusual difficulties.
Victoria's Protective services and the ‘Interim’ Fogarty Report: Is This the Right Road at Last?
Authors: Goddard Christopher R.
Published: March 2016

The history of the provision of child protection services in Victoria, and the lack thereof, is a long and complex one. Yet another twist in the tale occurred recently.

A report by Mr Justice Fogarty and Mrs Delys Sargeant, entitled Protective Services for Children in Victoria: An Interim Report, was released in January 1989. This report (hereinafter the Fogarty Report) was commissioned by the Victorian Government in August 1988:

“… to inquire into and advise it upon the operation of Victoria's child protection system and on measures to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.”
Children's Rights and the State in Loco Parentis
Authors: Sueur Eddie Le
Published: March 2016

The state government Department for Family and Community Services (formerly DCW) in South Australia is currently seeking to clarify and where necessary change policy in the area of guardianship, long term legal status and related issues. To facilitate this aim in the context of a broader consultation process, a discussion paper was prepared by the author in his role of Chief Policy Officer of DCW in October 1989. The full paper covers a range of issues bearing on the department's role in relation to children and their families where there is a possibility of state care being ordered.
Child Sexual Abuse and Cleveland: Lessons to be Learned
Authors: Goddard Chris
Published: March 2016

Kieran O'Hagan is an established social work practitioner and writer, currently employed as Principal Case Worker in Leeds, England. Kieran has numerous publications to his credit including Crises Intervention in Social Services (O'Hagan, 1986) and Working with Child Sexual Abuse (O'Hagan, 1989).

Kieran visited Australia recently to run a series of workshops and I took the opportunity to interview him. The interview is published in two parts, and will be concluded in the next edition of Children Australia.
Victims, Nuisances or Both? Changing Protective Services for Young People
Authors: Piper Karen , Smith Greg
Published: March 2016

Working with young people presents some unique challenges for protective services programs. How well equipped are services to meet those challenges? The Burdekin Report on Youth Homelessness graphically illustrates the ways in which both protective services programs and the community at large are failing young people.

One young person's experience of welfare authorities went like this… “they put you in refuges. That's their escape from the subject… But if you've really got a problem they're not (of) very much assistance.”

Intervention in the lives of young people has been alternatively described as neglectful, unhelpful, or damaging and punitive.
Homeless Children and Children's Rights: The Starting Line in the Human Race
Authors: Goddard Chris
Published: March 2016

The new-born child arrives in the world with an awesome array of capacities and reflexes. They can suck, cough, cry, squirm, turn their heads and grip objects (Segal and Segal, 1985). As Somerville points out, however, what we have to remember is that all children are born ‘prematurely’, in that their character and personality are yet to be fully formed (1982: 242).

It was Wilhelm Reich, I believe, who clearly portrayed the shock of being born. After 40 weeks or thereabouts of security, the newborn arrives in a world that is far less warm and far more threatening than the womb. The baby is picked up by the legs, slapped briskly and removed from his or her mother. Reich argued that the world was destined to remain in a mess while new residents are greeted in such a fashion. For some children, even in wealthy countries like Australia, those first few minutes set the scene for much of their future lives.
Enhancing Growth in Parents as a Way of Promoting Family Life and Youth Health
Authors: Mudaly Bala
Published: March 2016

The important link between family life and youth health and wellbeing is widely acknowledged in research and literature. Equally, it is noted that the nature of relationships youngsters have with their parents, necessarily impact on the psychological wellbeing of parents.

In the majority, current parent education programs focus on younger children, and largely advise parents on child development and child management. Depending on the theoretical orientation of the program, either the child's troublesome behaviour is focus for change or parents are required to change their behaviour or parenting techniques. The limitations of these approaches have been noted. While prescriptive parent education programs are clearly inappropriate where teenagers are the focus, few suitable group programs have been developed with a practical alternative orientation.

This paper reports on one form of parent education being developed at Springvale Community Health Centre which serves to explore the practical relevance and benefits of a family systems approach in support-group programs for parents of adolescent children. Essentially, the family systems approach locates the parent-teenager relationship in the context of the family. Using key notions such as context, connectedness, continuity and change an attempt is made in the group to facilitate personal growth and the emergence of an alternative vision of family dynamics and parenting relationships.

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

‘Will be to arrive where we started

And to know the place for the first time

(T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”)

We got here through the grace of our parents.

We get by with the help of our friends.

We go on for the future of our children.

(Ferber A. et al. The Book of Family Therapy, 1972)
Evidence and Child Sexual Abuse - Obfuscation or illumination?
Authors: Bates Frank
Published: March 2016

In an earlier article in this journal (Bates, 1992), I suggested that, ‘Legislation and traditional legal principle seems to have been used to obfuscate, rather than enhance, the fact finding process.’ The cases discussed in that article (Minister of Community Welfare v B.Y. and L.F. (1988) F.L.C. 91-973; In the Marriage of Y and F (1990) F.L.C. 92-141; In the Marriage of D and B (1991) F.L.C. 92-226) documented that administrative processes were far from satisfactory in the way in which they dealt with allegations of child sexual abuse and so, perhaps, was the way in which the courts viewed expert evidence. Unfortunately, the process does seem to be continuing and must, therefore, be appropriately documented.
Vale Daniel Is the system ‘failing to thrive’?
Authors: Swain Phillip A.
Published: March 2016

The recent trial and conviction in relation to the death in Victoria of Daniel Valerio has prompted renewed debate on mandatory reporting. But would such a measure have prevented Daniel's death?
Children and young people: Citizenship or residualism?
Authors: Carney Terry
Published: March 2016

The pace of economic and social change has quickened in the last decade; our standard of living - and the associated values of the ‘Deakin settlement’ - has been under challenge (Kelly, 1992). Social policy frameworks are under stress as a consequence of the challenge to the model which secured a living wage, arbitrated industrial awards, tariff protection and a regulated economy.

It will be suggested that this ought to spawn a new contemporary formulation of the social citizenship rights of children and families. Change provides the opportunities for practical applications of this; and Victorian policy practitioners have the intellectual tradition and capacity to carry that debate. What is at issue is whether there is sufficient energy to avoid slipping back into outdated nineteenth century formulations of residualist policy.
The abuse of children continues: Protecting children from abuse by professionals, Part Four
Authors: Goddard Chris
Published: March 2016

The recent articles (Goddard 1993a; 1993b; 1994), describing in some detail the battle of the woman who refused to ignore the abuse of her child by a school teacher, have provoked a number of telephone calls and letters. A number of people have praised the tenacity and courage of the mother in continuing to battle against the bureaucracy.

One mother has given permission to publish her story of similar experiences in attempting to get the bureaucracy to pay attention to the rights of children to protection. It is of great concern to me that, six years after first writing about this (Goddard 1988), the responses of organisations do not appear to have greatly changed.

Where a staff member is accused of abusing a child, the organisations still appear to be more concerned with protecting themselves rather than protecting the vulnerable children (Hechler 1988).

I would like to take this opportunity to repeat the questions I asked last year:

Why are parents, who do know or suspect that their children are being abused, treated so badly when they attempt to report?

Why do services appear to be concerned with protecting the perpetrator rather than protecting the child?

Why do such cases so often deteriorate into direct personal attacks on the parents (or professionals) who are trying to stop the abuse?

(Goddard 1993a:41)
Family Group Conferences, part two: Putting the ‘family’ back into child protection
Authors: Ban Paul , Swain Phillip
Published: March 2016

This is the second of two articles examining the establishment of Family Decision Making in Victoria. The first ‘Family Group Conferences – Part One: Australia's first Project in Child Protection’ was presented in the previous edition of Children Australia. This article builds upon the first by presenting an overview of the evaluation of the Victorian Family Decision Making Project, and pointing to practice and other implications of the development of this Project for child welfare services generally.
Family centred group care practice Concept and implementation
Authors: Ainsworth Frank , Small Richard W.
Published: March 2016

This article cites the international research evidence that supports family centred group care practice. A working definition, the key assumption and an orientation to group care and family work compatible with family centred group care practice is then articulated. This is followed by a set of practice guidelines and identification of the key characteristics of family centred group care agencies.
The prevention of child abuse, Part Two: Strategies to change attitudes and behaviour
Authors: Hawkins Russell M.F. , McDonald Rosalie A. , Davison Sandra , Coy Steve R.
Published: March 2016

In order to improve attempts at the prevention of child abuse, a large scale program to change community attitudes and behaviours is required. An approach based on the Yale model of persuasion is described. The particular messages to be promoted are discussed with an emphasis on positive rather than punitive messages. Alternatives to officialdom for making contact and for delivery of assistance to carers under stress are seen as desirable, including additional programs at local neighbourhood level. A series of recommendations which reflect principles known to be effective in changing attitudes and behaviour is made.
The value of co–ordination in child protection: An interview with Christine Hallett
Authors: Tucci Joe
Published: March 2016

Christine Hallett is Professor of Social Policy and Chair of the Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Scotland. She has written extensively in the area of child protection policy, child inquiries and inter-professional communication. In 1992, in conjunction with Elizabeth Birchall, she completed a major review of the literature on the issue of co-ordination in child protection work. It has formed the basis for a research study funded by the Department of Health Into inter-agency and professional co-ordination in the practice and policies of child protection.

This interview was conducted whilst I was on a study tour of Great Britain supported by a Creswick Foundation Fellowship in Family Relations and Child Development and the Department of Social Work, Monash University. In the interview, Christine discusses her views about the efficacy of co-ordination, its drawbacks and the policy implications for emphasising the importance of inter-agency co-ordination in protecting children.
Involving young people in decision–making
Authors: Lindsay Michael J.
Published: March 2016

The following two papers, which were provided to Children Australia by Meredith Kiraly. were given at a one-day Conference in London on 12 July 1994 entitled Residential Child Care: Into the Next Century. The Conference was convened by the National Children's Bureau of the United Kingdom.
Relief daycare: A role in preventing child abuse. The case emerging from the literature
Authors: Yandell Margaret , Hewitt Lesley
Published: March 2016

This article examines the assumptions linking stress and the lack of social support to the need for relief child daycare. The literature reviewed finds support for the view that such daycare can be a useful preventative intervention. It is a valid option to consider among the range of family supports, given accelerating rates of child abuse reports.
Child protection investigations as first interviews
Authors: McCallum Sharon
Published: March 2016

Child protection investigations are difficult tasks that many social workers undertake as part of their everyday work. Roles that seem contradictory, use of power and authority, and angry clients all serve to create tension for parents, workers and organisations alike. This paper seeks to address these issues and argues for the conceptualisation of the child protection investigation as the first interview of a potentially ongoing relationship.
Breach of duty: A new paradigm for the abuse of children and adolescents in care
Authors: Forward Anne
Published: March 2016

Analysis of the issue of abuse in care reveals that common structures and processes for response to allegations operate within a paradigm of minimalist child protection and that this paradigm is inadequate to the effective management of the problem. The paper will argue that a shift of paradigm is required. Concepts of individual pathology and deficiency, conflicts of interest in reporting and investigation and tolerance for all but seriously inadequate care for children must be replaced. A paradigm of duty of care would result in policy and procedure which embraced agencies' moral and legal duties towards children and assessed allegations or harm from this holistic perspective.
Working with Sexual Abuse Perpetrators at the Gracewell Clinic: An interview with Suzanne Jenkins, Senior Therapist
Authors: Tucci Joe
Published: March 2016

Suzanne Jenkins has had over fourteen years experience in the field of child abuse and perpetrator work. She was employed as Senior Therapist at the Gracewell Clinic in Birmingham, England. The Gracewell Clinic had a world-wide reputation for its successful and innovative approach to working with paedophiles and other perpetrators of sexual violence. Since the clinic's closure in late 1993, Suzanne has developed her own therapeutic and training model for working with sexual abuse based on an integrated approach.

The interview was conducted whilst I was on a study tour of Britain supported by a Creswick Foundation Fellowship in Family Relations and Child Development and the Department of Social Work, Monash University.

The interview took place during Suzanne's time with the Gracewell Clinic. In the interview, Suzanne discusses ideas that she has found useful in her experience of working with perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Shared Action: Stronger communities, safer children
Authors: Gardner Fiona
Published: March 2016

This article explores the effectiveness of an innovative and exciting project called ‘Shared Action’, a community development approach to child protection in Bendigo, Victoria. Shared Action was a three-year project which started in January 1997. It began by encouraging a sense of community ownership. A shared vision was developed with key goals leading to a wide range of community activities. A sense of hope and cooperation grew along with social networks, the capacity to resolve conflict constructively and a shared sense of community responsibility.
Child abuse in the context of parental separation and divorce: New reality and a new intervention model
Authors: Brown Thea , Sheehan Rosemary , Frederico Margarita , Hewitt Lesley
Published: March 2016

Child abuse allegations in the context of parental separation and divorce have long been seen as merely weapons fashioned by angry and vindictive parents involved in separation and divorce wars. They have been disregarded on the basis that they were unlikely to be real.

However recent research from Australia and overseas has shown that this picture is not true. Child abuse in this context is real and it is serious. Moreover the research has shown that the socio-legal system does not serve children caught in this situation at all well.

The Magellan program, a world first experimental program to overcome the problems for these children and their families as they progress through the socio-legal system, was introduced by a consortium of agencies in Victoria recently. This article reports on the program and its outcomes, and considers implications of some of the components of the new program for the various professionals working with this issue.
Protecting children or political priorities?: The role of governments at Woomera
Authors: Liddell Max , Goddard Chris
Published: March 2016

In March 2002 the authors notified all the children living in the Woomera Detention Centre to South Australia's child protection system, in an effort to ensure that the well-being of those children was protected. An investigation was conducted; serious problems at Woomera were identified; and the relevant South Australian Minister asked the Federal Minister for Immigration for ‘new guidelines’ for the centre. Then silence descended.

In this article, the authors detail the reasons for their notifications and outline the events which followed. The Federal Government criticised the report of the investigation by SA child protection workers, and there is no indication of any action taken on it. In explaining the ensuing silence the authors refer to their understanding of the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal and South Australian Governments. This memorandum, it is believed, ensures no further information about Woomera will be revealed. Further, the memorandum appears to leave the Federal Government with total responsibility for follow-up action. The South Australian Government seems to have surrendered its responsibility in this regard. Given the lack of action, the authors question whether both levels of government could be in breach of South Australia's Children's Protection Act 1993.
Violence during pregnancy: Preliminary findings
Authors: Walsh Deborah
Published: March 2016

Domestic violence has been a highlighted concern for some years. This has resulted in governments now providing recurrent funding for a range of domestic violence service provisions. The funding of services has given rise to a significant shift in service delivery, moving from volunteers staffing services to the development of specialised professional expertise in a range of domestic violence service provisions.

A number of years practice experience in the field, together with a review of the literature, leads to the conclusion that pregnancy may be a vulnerable time for some women whose partners choose to use violence. This has grave implications for the short, medium and long term health and welfare of these women and children.
Putting children's services in their place: A call for universal children's services to prevent child abuse and neglect in Australia
Authors: Winkworth Gail
Published: March 2016

This paper discusses the need for a national early childhood intervention policy in Australia, including a universal approach to children's services as a platform for the prevention of child abuse and neglect, supporting families and enriching the lives of all children.

It considers the literature on early intervention, including the theoretical and research base of successful programs and the link between early intervention and the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It examines the way the child welfare and children's services sectors have grown and the imperative at the beginning of the 21st century for a closer alignment of services.

The United Kingdom's ‘Sure Start’ early intervention strategy is considered in so far as it attempts to develop a more comprehensive approach to child welfare by developing programs which are based on the research. Finally the paper asserts that recent strategies introduced by Federal and State Governments to promote childhood health and wellbeing are positive first steps, but need to go further to seriously address increasing numbers of children reported as suffering harm through abuse and/or neglect.