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What's new in the field

This page aims to keep you up-to-date with "what's new" at the Communities and Families Clearinghouse Australia and in the fields of planning and delivery of services to children and families in disadvantaged Australian communities in the last three months.

• Website - Kids Central
  25 August 2010
  Kids Central is a website produced by the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University. The website contains a number of downloadable resources that investigate children's experiences of homelessness: "Over 18 months, staff at the Institute met with children and talked to them about what life was like for them when they were homeless, what they felt they and their families wanted and needed and how they thought kids might get better support".
• Parental Intellectual disability and child protection (PDF 972 KB)
  25 August 2010
  At the recent Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) conference in Sydney, Alister Lamont of the National Child Protection Clearinghouse presented a paper paper discussing the impact that intellectual disability has on parental capacity, and the possible risks to children. Mr Lamont also discussed how to improve support services to parents with intellectual disability so that their children are provided with the best care and protection. Click on the link for the Powerpoint slides from the presentation.
• Report - A Scan of Disadvantage in Queensland 2010
  23 August 2010
  A new report commissioned by UnitingCare Queensland's Centre for Social Justice investigates place-based disadvantage in Queensland. The report "aims to create momentum for a proactive, coordinated and targeted approach to reducing entrenched disadvantage in Queensland. It shows the continuing locational nature of disadvantage and recommends place-based partnerships across community, government and business as critical response".
• Bridging the "Know-do" gap: Knowledge brokering to improve child wellbeing
  23 August 2010
  A new book, produced by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Research Network, explores how the wellbeing of children in Australia and Internationally is compromised by a lack of knowledge transfer between the worlds of research, policy and practice. The book concludes by outlining ideas for the future of knowledge brokering.
• Indicators used internationally to measure Indigenous justice outcomes (PDF 546 KB)
  19 August 2010
  The extent of Indigenous disadvantage and the complexities of overcoming it have led to the development of a range of indicators against which the effectiveness of efforts to reduce disadvantage can be measured.The Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse has produced a new research brief that aims to contribute to the further development of such indicators by reporting on approaches used internationally.
• Innovative methods for engaging disadvantaged families: Lessons from Promising Practice Profiles (PDF 275 KB)
  18 August 2010
  At the recent Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) conference in Sydney, Dr Myfanwy McDonald, of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, presented a paper profiling some of the innovative and promising methods that child and family services in Australia are using to proactively engage disadvantaged families. Click on the link for the Powerpoint slides from Dr McDonald's presentation.
• Social Relationships and Mortality Risk
  18 August 2010
  A new meta-analytic review has investigated the ways in which social relationships influence risk for mortality. It was found that "the influence of social relationships on the risk of death are comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality such as smoking and alcohol consumption and exceed the influence of other risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity".
• Seminar: A review of integrated service models for young people in the preadolescent and adolescent years: Benefits, barriers and enablers
  13 August 2010
  This seminar will be presented by clinical psychologist Margaret Brechman-Toussaint of The Benevolent Society, who will draw on a review of national and international integrated service models. Integrated service models cross traditional organisational boundaries and bring together a range of professionals to provide health, education and family support services to young people and their families. This will be an "Access Grid" virtual seminar that can be attended at numerous sites around Australia on the 24th of August, 2010.
• Seminar: Current trends in child abuse and neglect in the United States: What might Australian learn and disregard from this evidence base?
  13 August 2010
  This free public seminar by Professor Marianne Berry, Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, will be presented as part of National Child Protection Week. Professor Berry will review the American evidence base for effective interventions to prevent and treat child maltreatment, and will discuss the practices and policies that might and might not be effective within an Australian context. On Wednesday 8th of September at the State Library of Victoria.
• Australian Human Rights Commission - A fair chance for every child: The right to survival and development
  13 August 2010
  During the annual "Rights of Children" lecture, the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Honourable Catherine Branson QC, argued that while most Australian children enjoy the protection of human rights, there still remain significant groups of vulnerable young people that lack adequate human rights protection. Ms Branson said that "Indigenous children, children with a disability, children experiencing mental ill-health, young people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable children are entitled to the full protection of their fundamental human rights".
• National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NAIDC)
  3 August 2010
  August 4th is National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NAIDC). The 2010 theme, 'Value My Culture, Value Me' is about the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to know they are loved and valued, and to have every opportunity to nurture and explore a healthy and strong sense of self and community.
• Think child think family: Child and family-sensitive practice in specialist homelessness service (Survey report 2010)
  2 August 2010
  In late 2009, Australian Centre for Child Protection researchers surveyed staff from 107 specialist homelessness services operating across Australia.
• Report - Conceptualisation of social and emotional wellbeing for children and young people, and policy implications
  23 july 2010
  This report was prepared by the Social Policy Research Centre of the University of New South Wales for the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The report aims to explore the meaning of the social and emotional well-being (SEWB) for children and young people (those aged 0-12 years and 13 to 25 years) and how indicators of SEWB can be developed.
• Policy Brief - Engaging Marginalised and Vulnerable Families
  23 July 2010
  This policy brief, No 18, 2010 from the Centre for Community Child Health explores the evidence regarding improving access to services for marginalised and vulnerable families with young children, and how families can best be engaged and supported.
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey; Summary Booklet, 2008 (Re-issue July 2010)
  23 July 2010
  The 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey summary booklets are intended for use by Indigenous Engagement Managers while visiting Indigenous Communities. They present a short summary of the results from the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, on a wide range of topics including population, culture and language, health, education, labour force, housing, family and support networks, children and young adults.
• Making the Connection - practitioner training
  22 July 2010
  Making the Connection is an innovative program for promoting parent child interaction that has come from the 'First Three Years' program in Canada. This three-day training program will be presented by Claire Watson and Barbara Ward from the' First Three years program' - from August 31st to September 2nd in Melbourne.
• Workforce development in early childhood education and care (PDF 242 KB)
  22 July 2010
  This research overview describes the approaches of innovative employers, those who have excelled in the delivery of early childhood education and care services while also providing staff with a high quality workplace and attractive employment conditions. The findings are drawn from workplace case studies in the child care sector, conducted as part of a three-year project on workforce development, by the Workplace Research Centre at the University of Sydney.
• $3.7 million for Family Support Services in Cardinia
  7 July 2010
  Families in the Cardinia Shire, Victoria, will have extra support through a range of child-focused services to help them provide a safe, happy and healthy environment for their children and protect them from abuse and neglect. Communities for Children Plus targets children under the age of 12 who need extra support to reach their full potential.
• NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee) Week: 4 -11 July
  6 July 2010
  The NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2010 national NAIDOC theme is "Unsung Heroes - Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way". The week is an opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• $1.5 million funding for family support services in East Arnhem
  30 June 2010
  Families in East Arnhem will have extra support through a range of child-focused services to help them provide a safe, happy and healthy environment for their children and protect them from abuse and neglect. The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, announced that this additional funding will be provided to Anglicare, NT, to deliver the Communities for Children Plus program in East Arnhem over the next three years.
• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline from 1 July 2010
  30 June 2010
  A new, expanded national 24 hour Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline commences on 1st July. Women, their partners and families will be able to call the Helpline on 1800 88 24 36 for advice and information about pregnancy, birth and the first 12 months of a baby's life.
• Seminar: 'Adults Beware': Children's worlds and the challenges for adult understanding and professional intervention
  30 June 2010
  This presentation by Professor Robbie Gillard from Dublin will challenge adult's assumptions about what is going on for children and what children may find helpful in terms of supporting their education and development. On 21 July at Southern Cross University, Lismore, with video links to Tweed River and Coffs Harbour. Email wendy.britt@scu.edu.au
• AIATSIS Seminar Series - Social Justice and Well-being
  23 June 2010
  This seminar at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Studies (AITSIS) in Canberra will be presented by Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on 28 June. Commissioner Gooda will examine how a human rights framework contributes to improving the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Central to this is understanding how the right to self-determination is essential to addressing the inequities and disadvantages in areas such as economic development, health and education.
• Paid parental leave scheme passed in Senate
  23 June 2010
  The Minister for a Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, announced the passage of the bill introducing a paid parental leave scheme. This historic legislation gives parents 18 weeks paid leave at minimum wage to spend time with their newborns. The scheme will begin at the start of 2011.
• Raising Children - Australian Fathers
  23 June 2010
  New research shows Australian fathers spend as much time caring for their children as their international counterparts, including France and Denmark, despite working longer hours. The study, Work and Family Time: Australia in Comparative Perspective, compared time demands on families with young children and gender division of work and care in Australia, the US, Italy, France and Denmark. The study also concluded Australian mothers work long hours, often in unpaid caring roles.
• Evaluation of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program
  22 June 2010
  An evaluation of the Kitchen Garden program, now in 140 primary schools around Melbourne, finds encouraging positive health-behaviour change in participating children. The evaluation also highlights the transfer of program benefits to the home and the broader community.
• Training - Transforming Childhood Trauma: Connecting with Empathy and Compassion
  22 June 2010
  A one-day event in most capital cities – 8 to 22 September. Dr Bruce Perry will communicate the key facts, concepts and principles when working with traumatized children in order to assist with their healing from traumatic life experiences. Interventions will be explored which include the incorporation of current neuroscience, clinical research and traditional knowledge. Theory and research will be interwoven with case examples.
• Contemporary approach announced to delivering family support services (WA)
  21 June 2010
  The WA State Government plans to introduce a common sense service delivery approach to provide better support, referral and targeted information for Western Australian families. Whereto.org.au would provide a tailored and integrated online and telephone service and be developed across metropolitan and regional areas from 2010-2012. The first four family support hubs will be Midland, Armadale, Joondalup and South West. Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said it was hoped the successful use of whereto.org.au would result in families not having to follow a statutory child protection path.
• ABS Release - Perspectives on Migrants, June 2010
  17 June 2010
  This Australian Bureau of Statistics article looks at the settlement outcomes for Humanitarian Program migrants. This article explores various aspects of this small migrant group including selected demographic characteristics, Australian citizenship status, education, employment, occupation, income and volunteer work.
• Communities for Children Plus in Kempsey, NSW (PDF 25 KB)
  17 June 2010
  The Australian and NSW governments are together providing $3.5 million in funding to the Benevolent Society to deliver Communities for Children Plus family support services in Kempsey until June 2013. This project targets children under the age of 12 who need extra support to reach their full potential. It allows the local community to develop and tailor the service to ensure it meets the needs of local children and their families.
• Workshop in Father Inclusive Practice (PDF 238 KB)
  17 June 2010
  An interactive, one day overview of the principles of Father Inclusive Practice and their application in family services. This workshop will use Father-Inclusive Practice Guide (FaHCSIA, 2009) as a foundational resource in exploring and understanding useful, practical steps in moving towards an inclusive practice for fathers. In Melbourne on 3 August.
• Refugee Week 2010 - June 20 to 26 - Freedom from Fear
  16 June 2010
  The theme of this year's Refugee Week recognises the strength and courage of refugees who overcome incredible hardships to start new lives free from fear and persecution. The week celebrates positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Details of activities around Australia and resources available for event organisers are available from the Refugee Council of Australia.
• National Indigenous Reform Agreement: Baseline performance report for 2008-2009
  10 June 2010
  This report, just released from the COAG National Reform Council, brings together much of the existing data relating to the economic and social disadvantage of Indigenous Australians and outlines the commitments and targets COAG (the Coalition of Australian Governments) have made to effect real change in the lives of Indigenous Australians. The report assesses the performance of governments against commitments to the six key areas of the National Indigenous reform Agreement.
• Brighter Futures early intervention evaluation: Interim report 3
  10 June 2010
  This program in NSW is aimed at providing targeted support to vulnerable families with young children who are at risk of being abused or neglected - to provide early intervention assistance as a means of preventing escalation into the child protection system. This is the final interim report presenting findings of the Results Evaluation on whether the program is meeting the needs and improving outcomes for the program families.
• ABS release: Healthy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
  1 June 2010
  The Australian Bureau of Statistics latest release The Health and Welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples reports that more than three-quarters (79%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 14 years and under were reported to be in excellent or very good health in 2008.