Feedback so far

The first round of child protection system reform focus groups included approximately 800 participants attending 11 sessions across the state.

The sessions explored our system reforms priorities - child safety pathway, Child and Family Assessment Referral Networks (CFARNs) and out of home care, to gather ideas and feedback on how best to work together towards implementation.

Key suggestions emerging from the sessions included the need to undertake targeted focus groups with carers, consultation with the Aboriginal community, and former and existing children under care to become involved in the discussion.

The emerging themes are:

• Child protection is a shared responsibility
• Additional training: information sharing guidelines and data sharing, notifiers, carers
• Transition for children and young people exiting out of home care
• Making CARL more accessible and less wait times
• Connection to country and remote areas
• Aboriginal families and communities:
  • Engage with extended family
  • Additional Aboriginal staff
  • Testing information through Aboriginal communities
• Culturally appropriate response and outreach programs.

Detailed feedback and responses that have been given so far

Explaining the reform of the child protection system (PDF 533kb)

1) Child Safety Pathways - Summary Report - Part 1 (PDF 691kb), Summary Report - Part 2 (PDF 556kb)

2) CFARNs - Summary Report - Part 1 (PDF 635kb), Summary Report - Part 2 (PDF 556 kb) and further information on Engaging with CFARNs (PDF 567kb)

3) Out Of Home Care - Summary Report (PDF 574kb), three topics generated specific reports: Family Scoping (PDF 611kb), Residential Care Placement (PDF 559kb) and Leaving Care (PDF 573kb).

Video updates were provided during the implementation ...

Kathryn Jordan, Executive Director for the Department of Child protection explains the scope and style of engagement around Child Safety Pathways, Child Assessments and Referrals and Out of Home Care (1m32s)

Three focus groups were specifically for Carers, this clip outlines the topics of discussion and feedback (1m0s)