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ACWA conference August 2014

Working towards a Common response to child protection in an organisation with diverse frameworks,

values and legislative responsibilities

Bronwen Elliot Good PraxisJennifer Evans Red Cross

Challenges in engaging in a national conversation and practice

• Organisational context

• Boundaries of child and family work within the values and principles of work of Red Cross

• Differing state/ territory legislative contexts

• Implementing the Policy – working in complex spaces

• Seeing children in all of our work

Key Influencers on organisational considerations

& Sub-strategy

areas

14 Ways of working

Organisational renewal

• Management• State• National• International focus

Research• Stolen Generation report• Dropping off the edge- Vinson• Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological

model of development• Wicked problems • Strength based practice • Think child Think Family -Scott

Seven Fundamental

principles

Government changes impacting on service delivery context :Policy Funding PartnershipsAccreditation

Child Protection legislative changesReviews/Royal Commissions States/TeritoriesNational Policy context

Child Protection Policy 2009 , 2011, 2013

Seven Fundamental Principles

• HumanityIts purpose is to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation and lasting peace amongst all people.

• ImpartialityIt makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

• NeutralityIn order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

• IndependenceNational Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

• Voluntary service Voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain

• UnityOnly one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country, open to all & carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

• UniversalityIRCRC movement -all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other

7 Priroity Areas

• Social Inclusion• Locational Disadvantage• Migrant Support• Emergency Services• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and

partnerships • Internal Humanitarian Law• International Aid and Development

Child safe organisation: capacity building elements

Capacity Building initiatives are grouped according to the following key elements:

1. Systems to ensure Adaptation, Innovation and Continuous Improvement

2. Governance and Culture

3. Participation and Empowerment of Children

4. Human Resources Management

5. Education and Training

Community and Disability Service Ministers conference Creating Safe Environments for Children: National Framework Schedule A: Guidelines for building the capacity of child safe organizations 2005

Child Protection Policy Journey

2009 – Management vested in HR– All staff required to notify – Child protection week annual campaigns– Recruitment screening

2011 – Child Safe contact officer roles, recruitment and training– HR policy manager and national cross portfolio implementation committee – National Orientation and Induction training review and roll out– Recruitment processes

2013– Accountability broadened: Snr Leadership group– Appointment of Child Protection Project Lead whole of organisational Internal programs – International accreditation – Partnerships – contractors and sub contractor focus– Child protection code of conduct– Operates within S/T legislation – Recruitment processes and resources – New training framework

Ways of Working

1. Applying the Fundamental Principles 2. Working as auxiliary to government and public authorities 3. Building on strengths 4. Focusing on prevention through early intervention 5. Working with partners and avoiding duplication 6. Embracing community development approaches 7. Acting on evidence

8. Advocating for vulnerable people

9. Valuing voluntary service

10. Focusing on areas of locational disadvantage to helpbuild stronger communities

11. Engaging young people

12. Embracing diversity

13. Ensuring gender is a key consideration in everything we do

14. Acknowledging the impact of climate change

Jurisdictional legislative differences

Jurisdictional legislative differences

Further developments

• Revised Child Protection Policy• Ways of Working with Children and Families• Internal training opportunities• Child support contact officers• National Project Lead, Child Protection• International scope, based on UN Convention

Key insights

• External factors– Changing policy contexts – Federated jurisdictional impacts in national organisation– Government leadership: Impact of legislation and training and recourses

on workforce and organisational maturity;

• Implementation processes

• Visibility of children

• Unplanned consequences

• Organisational learning culture

Contact details

Bronwen Elliott Good Praxis Pty Ltd

Jennifer Evans, National Project Lead Child Protection jeevans@redcross.org.au

ReferencesAustralian Red Cross:

Australian Red Cross Strategy 2015: Working as One 2010Inaugural vulnerability report: Inside the process of seeking asylum in Australia 2013Change Growth and Renewal in Australian Red Cross 2013

External

ARACY 2013 NEST National Plan for child well being ARACYAustralian Institute of Family Studies 2014 Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglectAustralian Centre for Child Protection 2010 - 2013 Protecting and Nurturing Children: Building Capacity, BuildingBridges is a project funded as part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)National Framework for Protecting Australia’s

ChildrenCommonwealth Government 2009 Protecting Children is Everyone's Business: National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020 and subsequent 3 yr action plansCommunity and Disability Service Ministers conference: 2005 Creating Safe environments for children: National framework Schedule A Guidelines for Building the capacity of child safe organizations July 2005 Bromfield ,L., Lamont,A.,Parker,E.,Horsfall,B. 2010 Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children and families with multiple and complex needs, the co occurrence of domestic violence, parental substance misuse and mental health problems National Child Protection Clearing House No 33 2010 Commonwealth of Australia 2008 The Road Home A national approach to reducing homelessness Commonwealth of Australia Fixsen,D., Blase,K.A.,Naoom.S.F.,Wallace,F. 2009 :Core Implementation Components, Research on Social Work Practice, 19 (5),531-540 Gibson C 2010 Homelessness and child wellbeing Communities, Children and Families Australia v. 5 no. 1 May 2010: 35-45 Scott D 2009 Think Child Think Family : How adult specialist services can support children at risk of abuse and neglect FamilyMatters, 81, 37-42