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ISSN 1832-2387

JANUARY 2006

MAGAZINE

www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

Report to CMC reveals vastly improved child protection system

Sweeping improvements to Queenslands child protection system are detailed in a comprehensive report released on 6 January to meet a two-year reporting requirement of the Crime and Misconduct Commission. The report, Progress in reforming the Queensland child protection system, details the major changes following the release of the CMCs report into child safety in January 2004, which triggered an overhaul of the states system. Following a massive reform program, 89 of the CMCs 110 recommendations for reforming the states child protection system have been completed and signicant progress has been made on implementing the remaining 21. The report also details the performance the new Department of Child Safety in the 12 months since its creation in September 2004, as well as the milestones reached in coordinating the activities of 10 other government agencies involved in child protection. Department of Child Safety Director-General Robin Sullivan said the report heralded a new era in child protection for Queensland, as the benets of initiatives being implemented began taking effect. This report brings a new sense of hope for Queenslands vulnerable children and young people, and it is my belief that many Queenslanders will feel this sense of optimism when they read it, Ms Sullivan said. Child abuse and neglect remains a very serious problem in our community. What this report shows is how we are acting decisively to confront and tackle that problem, she said. Queensland is well on the way to having a worldclass child protection system that has children as its focus. We are only two years into a three-year staged program of work, and as evidenced by this report, child protection in Queensland has already been fundamentally transformed. We now have a dedicated agency created exclusively to protect this states most vulnerable children, and committed to best practice. It is also an agency that is accountable for its actions and decisions by being open and transparent. The reform process began with the development of a Blueprint for the orderly implementation of the CMCs recommendations. The Blueprint was delivered on 22 March 2004 and detailed resourcing requirements and a staged program for introducing reforms over a threeyear period. One of the Blueprints major strategies was the establishment of a separate child-focussed department, along with changes to stafng, practice standards, service delivery, management systems, information systems, organisational culture and legislation.
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DIRECTOR-GENERALS MESSAGE

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PUBLISHED MONTHLY ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.childsafety.qld.gov.au EDITORIAL CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY +61 7 3224 8340 OR EMAIL buildingblocks@childsafety.qld.gov.au COMMUNITY PARTNER ADVERTISING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO ADVERTISE buildingblocks@childsafety.qld.gov.au DESIGN AND PRODUCTION blink studio www.blinkstudio.com.au

It was with a sense of pride that I saw 2005 conclude and 2006 begin with the release of two major reports demonstrating conclusively the tremendously important work of the Department of Child Safety. The rst was the Child Protection Queensland 200405 Performance Report, released in December, and then on 6 January the two-year report to the CMC on progress in reforming the Queensland child protection system. When I say I am proud of what our new department has achieved, it is not in a personal sense although it is an honour to lead such a dedicated group of people. It is pride arising from knowing how things truly have changed for the better, and what has been collectively achieved. It is pride akin to that of a parent watching a child grow from an unsteady toddler to a condent young adult. I cannot think of another feeling that fully captures the warmth and affection I feel when I think of the efforts by the staff and partners of this agency to make a difference in the lives of children and young people. The sweeping improvements to Queenslands child protection system documented in these two reports should be a source of pride to every staff member of the department, along with those working in the eld of child protection in other government agencies as well as the non-government sector. With nearly 90 of the CMCs 110 recommendations completed, and signicant progress made on implementing the remaining 20, there plainly has been a great deal achieved in the way of changes and reforms. However, while laurels may be well deserved, it is not a time to rest or relax our efforts. Rather, the two reports provide an opportunity to take stock and develop a perspective on all that has been done, and to renew our resolve to continue the work that needs to be done. So while I express pride in the many achievements attained, I also make a call to each and every staff member to stay the course. Without perseverance, much of the good work accomplished so far could be easily undone. I encourage you to read the reports, so that you can fully appreciate the many and far-reaching changes that have occurred since the release of the CMCs report in January 2004. I also wish you a rewarding and successful year in 2006. I do not hesitate to say that I am proud to be working alongside such committed and passionate professionals.

Contents
1
COVER STORY

REPORT TO CMC REVEALS VASTLY IMPROVED CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM 2 3

DIRECTOR-GENERALS MESSAGE PARTNERS IN ACTION

SCHOLARSHIPS TO BOOST REGIONAL CHILD PROTECTION RANKS WHOS CHATTING TO YOUR KIDS? CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS TO RECEIVE VITAL COUNSELLING DRIVING AMBITION TO PROTECT CHILDREN HELPING CHILD SEX ABUSERS TO STOP IT NOW CHILD SEX OFFENDER REGISTER TURNS ONE IGNORANCE IS NOT INNOCENCE 8
FEATURES

TWO YEAR PROGRESS REPORT TO THE CMC 12 WHOS WHO? A CARING WORLD SHARES 13 IN FOCUS PERFORMANCE REVIEWS CONTRIBUTE TO OPEN CULTURE CHERBOURG CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENTS NEW RECRUITS TO HELP TROUBLED CHILDREN 16 GENERAL NEWS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REMAINS A SERIOUS COMMUNITY PROBLEM NEW CARERS DIRECTORY IMPROVES SERVICE DELIVERY GUIDE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING CARE CHILD SAFETY OFFICES BEING OPENED ALL OVER QUEENSLAND 19 NEWS IN BRIEF MULTICULTURALISM NOW EMBEDDED IN CHILD PROTECTION FOSTER ALLOWANCES INCREASED BEENLEIGH AGENCIES PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER

Robin Sullivan Director-General Department of Child Safety

PARTNERS IN ACTION

ABOVE: DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, ROBIN SULLIVAN (SECOND ROW, THIRD FROM LEFT) AND MINISTER FOR CHILD SAFETY, MIKE REYNOLDS, (SECOND ROW, THIRD FROM RIGHT) SEATED WITH THE SUCCESSFUL RECIPIENTS OF GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND ON 28 NOVEMBER 2005 LEFT: CHILD SAFETY MINISTER MIKE REYNOLDS DISCUSSES THE GRADUATE BRIDGING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WITH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT ROBYN BURNETT AND HER HUSBAND GORDON BURNETT

Scholarships to boost regional child protection ranks

In a bid to expand Queenslands child protection ranks, 18 university students have been offered scholarships to undertake child protection studies as part of a new child safety partnership initiative. Signicantly, 15 of the 18 Child Safety Ofcer Graduate Bridging Scholarships were awarded on the basis of the recipients being prepared to work in rural or remote Queensland locations. The Department of Child Safety is offering a total of 40 scholarships, each worth $5000 to $6000, to graduates in related elds such as nursing, teaching and social sciences, who wish to gain the necessary qualications to become Child Safety Ofcers. The scholarships will allow recipients to complete an accelerated three-month full-time program to obtain a postgraduate qualication in child protection practice from the University of Queensland or James Cook University. These postgraduate courses - the rst of their kind in Queensland are the result of a partnership between the Department of Child Safety and the two universities. Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds said the scholarship scheme and accelerated vocational program were the latest initiatives in the departments ongoing campaign to recruit and retain high quality staff. He said they were also proof of how partnerships were working to enhance child protection services. This scheme will enlarge the potential professional labour pool available to ll Child Safety Ofcer positions, Mr Reynolds said. Child Safety Ofcers are pivotal in delivering services designed to protect Queensland children from abuse and neglect. We have to encourage more university graduates to consider working in child protection - a eld that is crucial to safeguarding the future of vulnerable children. Mr Reynolds said the scholarship scheme would sponsor up to 20 participants in each of the bridging programs offered by the two universities, which jointly developed the course. Both universities introduced one-year part-time versions of the course at the beginning of 2005. The University of Queensland has offered the bridging program as a summer semester course, while James Cook University is launching it in the rst semester of 2006. Both university programs are being offered in conjunction with work experience in a Child Safety Service Centre. Scholarship recipients who complete the bridging program and meet other necessary conditions for employment will be offered permanent positions as Child Safety Ofcers within the Department of Child Safety. We will soon welcome the rst graduates funded under the departments Postgraduate Qualication in Child Protection Scholarship Scheme launched at the beginning of the 2005 academic year, Mr Reynolds said.

Child Safety Ofcers are pivotal in delivering services designed to protect Queensland children from abuse and neglect.
Mike Reynolds, Minister for Child Safety
Forty-eight departmental staff and 12 staff from community child protection agencies received scholarships to undertake part-time study in the Graduate Certicate in Human Services (Child Protection) at the University of Queensland and the Postgraduate Certicate of Child Protection Practice at James Cook University. Mr Reynolds congratulated the recipients of the University of Queensland Child Safety Ofcer Graduate Bridging Scholarships during a ceremony held at Womens College at the University of Queensland in November last year. Recipients of the James Cook University scholarships will be announced soon. For more information about bridging scholarships, please phone 1800 089 515 or visit the Department of Child Safetys website www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

PARTNERS IN ACTION
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION

Whos chatting to your kids?

An award-winning information resource to help keep children safe from Internet predators is only a click away. The booklet, titled Whos chatting to your kids?, teaches parents how to identify whether children are at risk, and encourages them to educate their children about the dangers associated with the Internet, in particular, chat rooms. Appropriately, the booklet and accompanying poster are available from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) website at http://www.police.qld.gov.au or from all Queensland police stations. The QPS Sexual Crime Investigation Units Task Force Argos produced the booklet, web page and poster to educate parents as part of their campaign to protect children from the threat of Internet paedophilia. Detective Senior Sergeant Jon Rouse, Ofcer in Charge of Task Force Argos, said police were currently averaging six calls a week from parents whose children had received offensive communications and images in chat rooms. Investigations are currently taking place into a number of instances where Queensland children have received gifts such as mobile phones and teddy bears from possible Internet predators seeking to form a connection with the child, Senior Sergeant Rouse said. Although there is an increased awareness by Internet sex offenders that police are patrolling chat rooms, our detectives continue to be inundated by paedophiles sending offensive images and seeking to meet the covert operatives, believing they are children, he said. These offences will continue to be investigated and prosecuted. However, parents and children need to be aware of some basic strategies they can implement to minimise the risks and Whos chatting to your kids? provides that.

Tips to help protect your child from Internet predators

Task Force Argos began conducting covert operations in chat rooms in 2001. Since then, 97 people have been arrested for using the Internet to either procure children for sexual acts, exposing children to indecent material, or distributing child pornography. However, research conducted by the task force led to the realisation that while police can continue to investigate these types of offences, preventing children from becoming victims is the ultimate goal. As the driving force to rid the Internet of paedophiles preying on Australian children, Task Force Argos has been recognised in many ways, and is leading Australia in the development of this type of material. The Whos chatting to your kids? booklet has now been adopted in all states and territories in Australia, and was launched nationally during Child Protection Week last year. More recently, Whos chatting to your kids? won the State Gold Award for Excellence in Crime Prevention at the 2005 QPS Awards for Excellence. The awards recognise outstanding initiatives undertaken by police ofcers and staff members across Queensland and are an annual benchmark to measure the QPSs ability to address issues impacting on the delivery of policing services. consider installing ltering software ensure you are able to access your childs email and randomly check the contents keep the computer in a room the whole family accesses, not the childs bedroom check your telephone bill for outgoing calls check with your childs school on what safety measures they have in place tell children not to: o send pictures of themselves to someone they do not know o give out personal information on the web o arrange face-to-face meetings through the web In the event your child has received child pornography, been sexually solicited or received sexually explicit images, keep the computer turned off and immediately contact police.

PARTNERS IN ACTION

Child sexual abuse victims to receive vital counselling

More victims of child sexual abuse will soon be able to seek vital help from specialised counselling services in Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Townsville. In fullment of one of its Blueprint child protection reforms, the Department of Child Safety has allocated an extra $800,000 to establish or upgrade specialised sexual abuse counselling services in the four locations. Based on Queenslands March 2005 quarterly substantiated child sexual abuse cases, each of the four areas requires more specialised counselling services to cope with local demand and ensure an adequate statewide distribution of services. Suitable organisations in each area will receive $200,000 to counsel children and young people under 18 years of age who have experienced sexual abuse, as well as their families or carers. Counselling will also be available to children aged 12 and under who display sexually inappropriate behaviour. Although priority will be given to children and young people in the care of the state who require counselling, the services will also be available to other children who have been sexually abused. Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds said child sexual abuse had a range of devastating social, emotional and behavioural impacts on its victims. They may suffer poor self-esteem, disruption to social and cognitive functioning, poor interpersonal relationships, reduced social functioning and family breakdown. They may also experience trauma, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, as well as behavioural problems such as sexually inappropriate behaviour, he said. Mr Reynolds said organisations which received funding would have to adopt service models capable of addressing a range of needs. They will need to look at providing an appropriate mix of therapeutic and family-based support services, as well as assessment and individual case plans that are responsive to the individual needs of the child or young person and their families or carers, he said. Funding submissions will be sought from suitable organisations early this year.

Driving ambition to protect children

Children who have suffered sexual abuse now have the support of 20 knights (and ladies) in shining motorbike helmets. Members of Bikers United Against Child Abuse (BUACA) combine their passion for motorbikes with their commitment to protect children from sexual abuse, and support young victims and their families. The group, which includes riders from all walks of life from suburban mums to grandparents and beefy bearded truckers takes children on Buddy Runs aboard their gleaming motorbikes. The bike rides, usually to a local park or beach, are a welcome diversion for children recovering from the trauma of sexual abuse, according to BUACA member, Margaret Harper. The parents contact us, then we meet them and get to know the kids before we take them on a ride, she said. The children are thrilled to get on the bikes. The smiles on their faces are absolutely beautiful. We are not only there for the children, but for their families as well. They are victims too and they need to know they are not alone, she said. Margaret, who lives in the Brisbane suburb of Inala, already combines bike riding with raising four children, so the groups activities have particular appeal. She has not participated in a Buddy Run to date, as her bike, a Suzuki GSX 1100, does not hold the same fascination as the Harley Davidsons owned by several other BUACA members. However, she is an enthusiastic supporter of the groups fund-raising activities, which help to support Bravehearts, an organisation which aims to raise community awareness of sexual abuse and offers counselling to people who have experienced abuse. Our last biker auction in May, which included lots of goods donated by businesses, raised $5000 for Bravehearts, Margaret said. BUACA is keen to support public education activities that may help to prevent child sexual abuse. We want to create a safer environment for all children, Margaret said. So far, BUACA has recruited members from as far aeld as Longreach and Lismore, with several more bikers in Townsville and Gympie now seeking to join the group. For further information, contact Margaret on 0407 174 457.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION

BUACA MEMBERS (FROM LEFT) MARGARET HARPER, HOSS ANDERSON, SHARRON GEARY AND BOB POLAND SHARE A COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEX ABUSE. PHOTO: BELINDA JAMES

PARTNERS IN ACTION

Their mission is to help abusers stop and seek help, to educate adults about the ways to stop sexual abuse, and to increase public awareness of the trauma of child sexual abuse.
Kathy Prentice, Phoenix House coordinator

Helping child sex abusers to Stop It Now

A Queensland-based community organisation is set to challenge public attitudes by introducing a website and phone help line service that will offer advice to perpetrators of sexual abuse, as well as child victims. Phoenix House, a community organisation which runs sexual abuse prevention and support services in the Bundaberg region, is collaborating with a United States-based organisation called Stop It Now to introduce a program which seeks to re-educate sex abusers, as well as support those who have experienced abuse. We want to provide a comprehensive response to sexual abuse, where the emphasis is on the communitys responsibility to prevent abuse, rather than on expecting children to protect themselves, said Phoenix House coordinator, Kathy Prentice. This approach includes giving men who have been sexually abusive, or who are contemplating abuse, the opportunity to talk about it and nd out what is available to help them change their behaviours, she said. Kathy said the Stop It Now program, launched in the US in 1992 and now available in the United Kingdom, adopted a public health and social marketing approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Their mission is to help abusers stop and seek help, to educate adults about the ways to stop sexual abuse, and to increase public awareness of the trauma of child sexual abuse, she said. To assist this process, they established a help line for individuals and families seeking support and access to resources in a condential setting. Phoenix House plans to establish a similar help line, under the name, Stop It Now, Queensland, with the assistance of the US organisation. The help line will be available to anyone who is concerned about the sexual behaviour of another adult, adolescent or child, Kathy said. It will offer support and information services for those who have been sexually abused and it will also provide phone-in assistance to men who have been abusive, and those who may potentially be abusers. The Department of Child Safety provides Phoenix House with $287,700 a year in recurrent funding to run sexual abuse counselling services. Phoenix House is now seeking funding for the help line, which will require on-the-ground specialist counselling from clinical psychologists across Queensland. Evidence from the US suggests men who have been sexually abusive or are potential abusers will phone in and seek help, Kathy said. But you have to ensure there is adequate professional support available for them locally, when they come forward. The challenge will be to nd enough professionals with experience in treating sexually abusive behaviour. It is such a specialised area, she said. In the meantime, the Stop It Now, Queensland website features a comprehensive range of information materials that can be downloaded, including resources for men who are sexually abusive and seeking to change their behaviour. For further information about Stop It Now, Queensland, contact Phoenix House on (07) 4153 4299, email admin@basas.org.au or go to www.connectqld.org.au/basas

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION

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PARTNERS IN ACTION

Child sex offender register turns one

New Years Day marked the rst anniversary of Queensland laws requiring child sex offenders to report their whereabouts to police. From 1 January last year, offenders convicted of serious offences against children have been required to report to police under the Queensland Child Protection Offender Register legislation. Detective Senior Sergeant Denzil Clark from the Child Protection Offender Registry said the register aimed to keep police informed of the whereabouts of child sex offenders. The National Child Protection Offender Register is not punitive in nature it aims to protect the community, Detective Clark said. The register recognises that in many cases there are recidivist risks posed by offenders who have committed serious offences against children, he said. It allows police to monitor the offenders situation, so as to reduce the likelihood they will re-offend. If necessary, it will also help police investigate and prosecute any further offences the offender may commit. Reportable offences include murder, rape, sodomy, unlawful carnal knowledge, indecent treatment, child pornography or the attempt, conspiracy, or incitement to commit any such offence. If sentenced for a reportable offence on or after 1 January last year, an offender is automatically required to report to police. Retrospectively, any person serving a prison sentence for a reportable offence or subject to a supervision order on 1 January is also considered a reportable offender. Detective Clark said many factors determined the length of a reporting period, including the seriousness of the offence committed and the number of reportable offences for which the person had been convicted. Reportable offenders must make an initial report upon being released from custody and then report annually thereafter, he said. Offenders must provide their personal details to police and if these change or they intend to travel from Queensland, they must report their new details and travel plans within specied time frames.

Failing to comply with these reporting obligations or knowingly providing false or misleading information to police are offences. All information contained on the Child Protection Offender Register is condential and can only be used for law enforcement purposes. A detailed brochure about the Child Protection Offender Register is available online at http://www.police.qld.gov.au

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION

Ignorance is not innocence

More than 100 leaders in the elds of child protection and early childhood attended a November forum in Brisbane to discuss the role of sexuality education in preventing child sexual abuse. Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) organised the forum, Ignorance is not Innocence: Why talk about sexuality and prevention of sexual assault in the early years? with the C & K (formerly the Creche and Kindergarten Association) and QUTs School of Early Childhood. FPQ program manager Holly Brennan said children who were well informed about sexuality were less vulnerable to abuse. If we talk about re when we do re safety, about roads when we do road safety, why dont we talk about sexuality when we discuss prevention of sexual abuse? Ms Brennan said. Ms Brennan said the role of sexuality education in preventing child abuse needed recognition in state and federal government policies and in community child protection programs. Child safety advocate and former Senior Australian of the Year, Professor Freda Briggs, who delivered the forum keynote address, said she believed sexuality education should start during infancy. It is a gradual and natural unfolding of information that is developmentally appropriate, Professor Briggs said. Children who receive comprehensive sexuality education from an early age: are more likely to make informed and responsible sexual decisions later in life understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviour are less vulnerable to exploitation and sexual abuse are more likely to use self-protection skills. Others who addressed the forum included QUT early childhood researcher Dr Kerryann Walsh, C & K child protection consultant Fiona Brown, Early Childhood Australia executive Dr Jenny Cartmel, Student Services Education Queensland Director Clare Gardiner-Barnes, and Department of Communities Child Safety Unit principal policy ofcer Susan Irvine. A copy of Professor Briggss paper is available at www.fpq.com.au

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE PROFESSOR FREDA BRIGGS, FPQ CEO KELSEY POWELL, QUT EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCHER, DR KERRYANN WALSH, LEONA ELMSLIE FROM THE COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILD GUARDIAN, FPQ PROGRAM MANAGER HOLLY BRENNAN AND C & K CHILD PROTECTION CONSULTANT FIONA BROWN.

FEATURES

Progress in reforming the Queensland child protection system

Report to the Crime and Misconduct Commission January 2006

continued from page 1

Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds said the report showed the agency had been bolstered by additional staff, better training and resources, improved accountability, additional funding, greater support for carers, and more suitable placement options for abused children who could not live at home. Mr Reynolds said the new system also recognised that without adequately trained and supported foster carers and staff, as well as strong government and community partnerships, it was not possible to achieve an effective child protection system. I congratulate the staff of the new Child Safety Department, as well as other government and community agencies involved in child protection, for putting their shoulder to the wheel in 2005 and cementing the future of Queensland s child protection system. While children come rst in this new system, its biggest assets are our staff, our foster carers and our government and community partners, and we are committed to investing in them to increase our capacity to deliver quality and accountable child safety services. Partnerships are a crucial component in the delivery of child safety services for vulnerable children and their families, he said.

The reform process has been supported by a massive and on-going increase in the department s budget allocations. In J une 2004 , the State Budget delivered more money to child protection than in any previous Queensland budget, providing an operating budget of $ 27 2 million and a capital budget of 3 5 $ million. This was followed in u J ne 2005 with a further 5 9 $ million in capital, resulting in a record 5 . 4 3 per cent increase, taking the department s total allocation to 3 9 $5 million. Mr Reynolds said the CMC report was a signicant milestone in Queensland s child protection history. Reform is an ongoing process and completion of the 1 0 recommendations is merely an end to stage one, Mr Reynolds said. The challenge will be to keep pace with international best practice in child protection, he said. Details of the government s progress to deliver child safety reforms can be found on the Department of Child Safety website at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

FEATURES

Foster care reforms

The report highlights that Queensland foster carers and the children in their care are receiving an unprecedented level of support as a result of a number of key reforms including: identication and introduction of a range of respite options for foster carers to provide carers with temporary relief from the stresses of caring, and in so doing reduce the risk of placement breakdown and carer burnout an increase in the allowances paid to foster carers, including additional allowances for children with high needs and for children in rural and remote locations provision of priority access to social housing for foster care families implementation of a foster carer recruitment campaign to attract an additional 5 00 carers from a diverse range of socioeconomic and cultural, including Indigenous, backgrounds development of an evidence-based foster carer screening and assessment model to ensure applicants demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to provide quality foster care for vulnerable children introduction of a new foster carer training package improvement in the diversity and number of out-of-home places through the recruitment of more foster carers and creation of additional out-of-home care places. Initiatives to strengthen partnerships and better coordinate the activities of government and community sector agencies involved in child protection include: establishment of a Queensland G overnment Child Safety Coordinating Committee to ensure cross-agency responses and policies are developed and implemented to achieve whole-of-government integrated child protection services creation of a Child Safety Director position within each of the government agencies that play a key role in promotion of child safety, and formation of a Child Safety Directors e Ntwork establishment of a Statewide Partnerships Taskforce to ensure coordination between government agencies and the non-government sector creation of a Child Safety Implementation Committee to guide and advise on the implementation of reforms development of a framework for prevention and early intervention to integrate and streamline prevention and early intervention services and improve services to Indigenous communities development of a coordinated child protection framework the Strategic Framework for Child Protection to help create an integrated service system which responds to the needs of children.
COMMISSION ER FOR POLICE, BOB ATKINSON AN D DEPARTMEN T OF CH ILD SAFETY DIRECTOR-G EN ERAL, ROBIN SULLIVAN.

Strengthened partnerships

The past year has provided opportunities for the Department of Child Safety and other government agencies to implement ongoing reforms resulting from the Blueprint. Reforms have been progressive and the next year will see the full implementation of many reforms resulting in enhanced case work practices and outcomes for children and young people. The Department of Child Safety has started to implement significant changes over the past year with the introduction of Structured Decision Making, the ICMS Carers Directory and the four stages of the Practice Manual, to name a few. The rollout of new funding for out-of-home care services will also see benets for the long term future care needs of our children. Foster Care Queensland welcomes the opportunity to play an integral role in helping to implement many reforms in the out-of-home care sector. Like all organisations, it is difcult at times to see outcomes in the short term, and our vision is to see outcomes for child and young people that enhance their day-to-day lives now and in the future.

Recent reforms in the child protection system have allowed the Queensland Police Service to strengthen and coordinate its response to children at risk of harm through building partnerships with other government and non-government agencies and implementing important changes to operational policies. Focus areas include an enhanced response to children involved in domestic violence incidents and additional staff allocated to the u J venile Aid Bureau. The Queensland Police Service believes that such initiatives will greatly contribute to service delivery to children and the ability of agencies involved in child protection to work collaboratively in the future.

Bryan Smith President Foster Care Queensland Inc

Acting Inspector Jo-Anne Henderson Child Safety Co-ordination U nit Queensland Police Service

FEATURES

Internal reforms
Internal reforms have fostered a change in culture and enabled a much greater focus to be placed on the protection of children in Queensland. These include: recruiting a signicant number of additional Child Safety staff members across the seven zones and appointing through merit selection Zonal Directors, Child Safety Service Centre Managers, Senior Practitioners, Team Leaders, Business Support Ofcers and Court Coordinators reducing the case loads of staff managing children in care through extra staff, better training and improved policies, procedures and practices establishing enhanced training and professional development programs supporting staff through an Employee Support Service, and recognition of service and excellence awards building and tting-out new ofce accommodation implementing an Operational Performance Review process to evaluate the performance of service centres and to identify and manage emerging trends and issues in the delivery of services upgrading information systems, including new record keeping practices and an integrated client management system to support more effective decision making, case and foster carer management introducing Structured Decision Making, an evidence-based assessment and decision making model to help Child Safety Ofcers and Team Leaders in making critical decisions about the safety of children creating a Complaints, Case Review and Investigations Branch to receive, assess and respond to complaints against the department and to audit cases of abuse in care to identify systemic issues and practice improvements establishing an interagency Complaints Management Committee to develop interagency protocols and improve service delivery introducing a requirement that all departments involved in child protection report in their annual reports on their child protection initiatives and contributions.

Child-focussed reforms
Demonstrable improvements for children have been achieved as a result of reforms to the child protection system. Some of these changes include: greater participation by children in key decisions about their lives such as living arrangements and family contact more involvement by children in the development of their individual case plans better assessment and decision making tools concerning the safety of children and their wellbeing, resulting from the introduction of Structured Decision Making additional education assistance through the introduction of Education Support Plans specically designed for each child to support their personal and academic development access to enhanced therapeutic and behavioural support services for children suffering from emotional and behavioural problems additional sexual abuse counselling services for children who have suffered sexual abuse trialling dedicated health assessment and health plans for vulnerable children in out-of-home care greater assistance for children transitioning from care to adulthood.

The implementation of the CMC recommendations has been a mammoth task within some very tight timeframes. Whilst it is reported that 89 of the recommendations have been implemented, it remains to be seen what impact these will have. CREATE supports the evaluation of the recommendations to ensure that the proposed outcomes are in fact being achieved. Some of the work that is going to have a positive impact is the implementation of the Practice Manual and the supporting practice papers. It is good to see that support is being provided to case workers and that parameters around decision making are being clearly identied. This has been one of the major hurdles of an effective system, supporting case workers and managers to make decisions in an informed and balanced way in line with legislative and policy requirements. In addition, the commitment to training case workers when they initially join the Department of Child Safety and then ongoing professional development opportunities is providing case workers with a foundation on which to build and improve practice and subsequent outcomes for children and young people in need of care and protection. Another piece of work that will contribute to improved outcomes for children and young people is the revised foster carer training and advanced modules. Foster Carers will have the opportunity to develop their skills in specialist areas to meet the varied needs of the children and young people they care for.

Feedback from Child Safety Ofcers our frontline staff delivering our services to children and families indicates that the Child Safety Practice Manual has been an extremely useful guide for their practice. The challenge for 2006 is to improve our services to children and families through continuing to implement the practice changes and the next releases of the integrated client management system.

Marilyn Leeks Director, Practice Standards Project Department of Child Safety

Dianna Dawson Consulting Manager CREATE Foundation

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FEATURES

Indigenous reforms
The report outlines a program of reforms in progress to improve Indigenous child protection services by: actively recruiting Indigenous carer families for abused Indigenous children who cannot live at home improving the quality of care for Indigenous children and ensuring the childs cultural identity is maintained by clarifying the Indigenous Child Placement Principle, and requiring that all carers, including relative or kinship carers, be regulated and meet minimum standards establishing an interim statewide Indigenous advisory group in the form of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Partnership working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Partnership to jointly develop an Indigenous Recognised Entity service delivery model which will be implemented in 200506 to provide clear direction about the role of Indigenous Recognised Entities, enhance coverage and capacity of services, and establish a permanent peak body establishing interim Indigenous Recognised Entities across Queensland in November 2005 funding the development of new or enhanced Indigenous Recognised Entities ($9.4 million in the 200506 State Budget) to provide culturally appropriate services to Indigenous children and families stipulating new practice standards to guide staff when working with Indigenous children, including the need to work with an approved Indigenous Recognised Entity creating a statewide Indigenous Support and Development Branch, based in Cairns, to enhance the range and quality of child protection services, both within the department and in the community, and assist Indigenous Recognised Entities to build their capacity, train staff and develop policies and programs building the capacity of Indigenous communities developing a cultural competence training program for all staff.

Legislative enhancements
Legislative and accountability enhancements include: creation of a Child Guardian within the Commission for Children and Young People to monitor, audit and review the actions of the Department of Child Safety the ability of the Child Guardian to ask the Children Services Tribunal to review decisions made by the Department of Child Safety, therfore providing additional accountability for Queensland children in care establishment of child death case review functions within the Department of Child Safety (Child Death Review Committee) and Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (the independent Child Death Case Review Committee) expansion of the Community Visitor program to include regular visits to children living in foster care or with a relative carer, in residential facilities, detention centres or mental health services clarication of the Indigenous Child Placement Principle to ensure that out-of-home care placements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are culturally appropriate and maintain the childs cultural identity regulation and screening of all carers, including kinship carers, and a framework for supporting carers through enhanced monitoring of carers and the provision of training opportunities, respite and other support for carers. I welcome the report and acknowledge the work of the Department of Child Safety and other service providers to improve service and practice standards. As Child Guardian, my responsibility is to oversee the child protection system, with respect to outcomes for children and young people. I am committed to establishing the Commission as a body which effectively performs this external monitoring role for Government and the community through its various activities, including investigations, monitoring and auditing, capacity building, complaints and the Community Visitor program. While the department and Commission have fundamentally different roles, both agencies share a common goal of improving the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people in Queensland. I am positive about the direction in which the reforms to the child protection system are currently travelling. The willingness of the department to engage with the Commission as the external monitor and respond professionally to the Commissions recommendations has been positive. I think the new child safety service model will result in better outcomes for children and young people in care in the longer term. I support the departments efforts to sustain strong links with the Department of Communities early intervention and prevention initiatives. This is crucial for the timely and effective support of children, young people and their families.

Elizabeth Fraser
Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AT THE STAKEHOLDER EVENT FOLLOWING THE REPORTS RELEASE ARE MARIE LYNHAM, BRISBANE SOUTH AND GOLD COAST ZONE DIRECTOR, MINISTER FOR CHILD SAFETY, MIKE REYNOLDS, DR JANE THOMSON, HEAD OF SOCIAL WORK, JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, AND DR BOB LONNE, SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND.

11

WHOS WHO

A caring world shares

For 64-year-old grandfather, Leigh Sheneld of Bracken Ridge, childhood is a stage of life to be treasured, celebrated and enjoyed all year round. Leigh happily combines his roles as husband, father of three, and grandfather of six, with that of being President of the Queensland Childrens Week Association, of some 31 years standing. Every year, Leighs calendar revolves around the usual family commitments and Childrens Week, which is held in the fourth week of October to include Universal Childrens Day. During Childrens Week, Leigh is called upon to coordinate activities intended to raise awareness of the needs and achievements of children and young people. The overall theme of Childrens Week 2005 was A caring world shares, Leigh said. The week serves as a reminder to the community that it is everyones responsibility to care for children and young people. Activities are held during the week to focus the attention of the wider community on children, their needs and achievements, he said. Childrens Week is known to many in the Department of Child Safety, with the Director-General, Robin Sullivan, serving as the ongoing State Patron of the Queensland Childrens Week Association. Leighs passion to nurture the achievements of children and young people dates back more than four decades to 1958, when as a 17 year old he was appointed to leadership roles with local Church of England Boys Society and the YMCA. Luckily for Leigh, his wife of 40 years, Lola, shares his dedication to serving the community through childrens organisations. In 1974, Leigh became the Superintendent of the Enoggera Boys Home, run by the Church of England, and remained in that capacity until 1978. During the years of his appointment, his wife, Lola, was appointed in the position of Matron. For his dedication to serving the community, Leigh was honoured with life membership of the Superintendents and Matrons Association of Queensland in 1980. Another appointment for Leigh was that of the Deputy Field Superintendent of the Royal Queensland Bush Childrens Health Scheme from 1979 to 1993. Leigh said one of the benets of his lifetime of service to community organisations was the enjoyment, reward and pleasure that comes from helping children and young people to reach their potential and in sharing that commitment with others in the community. Throughout my career, I have seen dedicated people in government agencies and non-government agency partners who have put in a tremendous effort in their work with children, young people and families, Leigh said. Its been an honour and a pleasure to be appointed to roles in the community where I can help in drawing attention to the needs of children and in showing them that we care for them.

Throughout my career, I have seen dedicated people in government agencies and non-government agency partners who have put in a tremendous effort in their work with children, young people and families.
Leigh Sheneld

12

IN FOCUS

Performance reviews contribute to open culture

The Department of Child Safety is enhancing its accountability and transparency by reviewing operational performance in a more constructive and visible way. The department introduced Operational Performance Review (OPR) in August last year as part of Director-General Robin Sullivans vision to develop a learning culture within the new agency. The review process allows organisations to measure and articulate performance issues and demonstrate improvement in an operational sense. OPR Director Cameron Harsley said that while OPR was not a new concept, an innovative Queensland model was evolving that had total transparency in the process. He said this was achieved through advance circulation of review material and key issues to the managers and staff involved in the process, including all relevant statistical tables. The ultimate aim is to improve service delivery to the community, he said. Cameron said that in recent years, government had increasingly focussed on agencies outcomes, and reviews were an effective way for departments to measure them. A number of other departments are exploring OPR as a means of systematically exploring internal performance issues, following other agencies recognition of its effectiveness. Cameron said there were numerous benets to the adoption of OPR by agencies involved in child protection. The OPR process allows Child Safety and its partner agencies to examine crossagency performance issues, he said. Reviews were introduced into the Queensland Police Service by Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson in August 2001 following extensive research into similar systems in other jurisdictions in Australia and overseas.

The ultimate aim is to improve service delivery to the community.

Cameron Harsley, Operational Performance Review Director

The process is more than just a performance review system, as it also encourages an open and accountable culture in organisations, Cameron said. It uses a problem-oriented approach that looks beyond statistics to the causes behind them, he said. It also places greater emphasis on analysing trends and local problems to establish local operational solutions and organisational priorities. In this sense, it can be seen as knowledge-led management. Cameron said Child Safety staff had appreciated direct contact with their senior executives to discuss local problems and initiatives. The process has also allowed staff to showcase best practice initiatives, which helps cultivate best practice across the agency. Since the implementation of reviews, signicant adjustments have taken place to make better use of the extensive information resources. Closer examination has been undertaken to establish more effective and efcient intelligence networks throughout the state to ensure departmental resources are focussed on problems in a timely way.

Review meetings take place annually with individual Child Safety Service Centres, or in the case of QPS, with individual Police Districts. In addition to the formal meeting, follow-up reviews also take place, and issues identied during reviews are progressed to solutions as soon as possible. The respective chief executive ofcers, the Director-General at Child Safety and the Commissioner of Police, conduct the reviews, with other executive management members also present. This illustrates the emphasis placed on the process and also the commitment to improve performance within agencies, Cameron said. Cameron said it was a credit to Commissioner Atkinson for initially introducing this system in Queensland. We are also indebted to Superintendent Peter Savage from the QPS OPR unit, who has supported us, and other departments, in researching implementation of the process, he said.

13

IN FOCUS

(LEFT) HULA DANCING AND LINE DANCING DISPLAYS WERE INCLUDED IN THE FESTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THE CHERBOURG NEGOTIATION TABLE DAY (TOP RIGHT) JOAN KEEVERS, ALTERNATIVE CARE WORKER, SOUTH BURNETT CHILD SAFETY SERVICE CENTRE AND TRICIA SMITH, MANAGER, SOUTH BURNETT CHILD SAFETY SERVICE CENTRE (ABOVE) CHERBOURG ABORIGINAL SHIRE COUNCIL MAYOR, KEN BONE

Cherbourg celebrates achievements

Director-General Robin Sullivan and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor, Ken Bone, jointly hosted Cherbourg Negotiation Table Day celebrations in November 2005. The Cherbourg Negotiation Table commenced in early 2004 to regularly bring together government and community representatives to discuss issues affecting Cherbourg. The achievements of the Negotiation Table and the Cherbourg community were celebrated with a barbecue, live entertainment, and information presentations. The success of the Negotiation Table is a testament to the work of many government agencies and the Cherbourg community, in particular its Elders and leaders, Ms Sullivan said. Ms Sullivan said the Department of Child Safety was delighted to be involved in the celebrations and was working to build a stronger, more productive relationship with Cherbourg families and the community organisations that serviced them. During the Negotiation Table Day, the Cherbourg Critical Incident Womens Working Group hosted a discussion on the prevention of child abuse. Fifteen government agencies participated in the event, including the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Health, the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, the Department of Communities, the Department of Education and the Arts, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, and the Department of Emergency Services. The Cherbourg Aboriginal community, located in the heart of Queenslands South Burnett region, was settled just over a century ago. Ms Sullivan was appointed as government champion for Cherbourg in October 2004 to ensure the community received coordinated, integrated and responsive government services. It is a great privilege to have been appointed as the government champion for such an important Aboriginal community and I am committed to making sure Cherbourg receives the services and support it needs to continue growing stronger and safer, Ms Sullivan said.

14

IN FOCUS

New recruits to help troubled children

Psychologists, psychiatrists, speech and language pathologists, and allied health workers have been recruited from throughout Australia and New Zealand to work together on one common goal helping children in care with complex needs. The 35 mental health and behavioural support professionals are members of the new Therapeutic Services and Behaviour Support teams to be located throughout the state. At a three-day interagency training forum in December, the 35 professionals joined together for the rst time to understand the effects of abuse and trauma on children, and learn about their role in delivering a cohesive integrated therapeutic program. Child Safety Project Manager, Yvonne DOcchio, said the forum represented an exciting time for Queenslands child protection sector as it marked the ofcial start of the new service for some of the most troubled children in care. We have recruited the best professionals for these positions and I am condent that their combined skills will produce positive results for children suffering from emotional, psychological and behavioural problems, Yvonne said. The Therapeutic Services and Behaviour Support teams will work with children to reverse the effects of their traumatic experiences and increase their ability to participate successfully in their education and in social and home relationships. Through this initiative, we will gain a better understanding of the development of psychological and behavioural problems in children who have been abused. With an increased understanding of the effects of trauma and abuse and the impact of the environment, we will hopefully see a reduction in the escalation of concerning behaviours in children after they enter care. Yvonne said children and young people in care who had disabilities would also be assisted to develop functional skills that would increase their opportunities for participation in everyday life. They will achieve a long lasting improvement in the quality of their lives and a decrease in behaviour which may be of concern, Yvonne said. According to Yvonne, the most powerful aspect of the new therapeutic services initiatives is the collaboration across Queensland Government agencies to help address the impacts of stress and trauma in a childs life. Therapy in isolation does not usually achieve sustainable changes in the behaviour of a child, Yvonne said. The collaborative efforts of a range of mental health and behavioural support professionals will help troubled children in all contexts of their life, from schooling to their home and social life. Children have a greater opportunity to achieve a successful adult life if they are educated and also have the knowledge of themselves to be able to interact socially, she said. Yvonne said the $22.6 million initiative would fund Disability Services Queensland, Queensland Health and the Department of Education and the Arts to help children referred by the Department of Child Safety to address the impacts of the trauma experienced in their lives. The initiative was a key reform arising from the 2004 Crime and Misconduct Commission report that recommended the establishment of therapeutic programs for children in care with severe psychological and behavioural problems, Yvonne said. There are currently three sites throughout Queensland Townsville and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts piloting the Therapeutic Services and Behaviour Support teams. The implementation of the full range of therapeutic services will be completed in 2007. This will represent a significant enhancement of the disability and mental health resources available throughout Queensland, she said.

Children have a greater opportunity to achieve a successful adult life if they are educated and also have the knowledge of themselves to be able to interact socially.
Yvonne DOcchio, Child Safety Project Manager

15

GENERAL NEWS

Child abuse and neglect remains a serious community problem

Far too many Queensland children and young people are being abused or neglected by people they should trust the most a member of their own household according to statistics recently released by the Department of Child Safety. The Child Protection Queensland: 2004-05 Performance Report showed nearly 13,000 children were abused or neglected, or were considered at risk, in 2004-05 a 44 per cent increase on 2002-03. Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds said the gures were even more signicant considering that many cases of child abuse remained unreported. The gures are evidence of a positive and growing community awareness of child abuse and neglect issues, an attitude that such acts will simply not be tolerated, and a preparedness to report cases to the authorities, Mr Reynolds said. There is, however, an ongoing need to highlight the nature and extent of the problem to ush it out into the open where it belongs, where it can be seen, and where it can be confronted. These gures also show that there are too many adults in this community not taking their responsibility as a parent seriously. Quite simply, we cannot as a society tolerate the abuse and neglect of children in any way, shape or form, he said. Mr Reynolds said the report also showed that since 2003 children who had been in care for at least two years had performed better against national benchmarks for Year 7 reading and numeracy and Year 5 numeracy. Education is an important gateway to employment and effective participation in community life and it is therefore imperative that children in care receive the same educational opportunities provided to their peers, Mr Reynolds said. Because of their circumstances, children in care need help to access and participate in education and to perform better in school. This report conrms that initiatives introduced by the Queensland Government to improve the education outcomes of children in care are working by providing more stable and consistent experiences at school, he said. In other positive news, Mr Reynolds said the report indicated that Queensland children were receiving more stable foster care placements, with 88.5 per cent of children who exited the foster care system in 200405 having less than four placements, compared with 81.7 per cent in 200304. and a stable home environment is one of the key factors for a successful foster care placement, he said. Mr Reynolds said the report recently presented to the Crime and Misconduct Commission showed that the growing demand for child protection services had been matched by sweeping improvements and reforms to the system. The comprehensive report to the CMC detailed the extensive changes to the child protection system, including additional staff, better training and more resources that have increased the capacity to deliver quality and accountable child safety services, he said. While the performance report presents information similar to that contained in the departments Annual Report 200405, information is provided in more detail and disaggregated across a range of sub-categories. The report is the second major report under a new performance framework, highlighting both the demand on and performance of the child protection system during 200405 as well as emerging issues or areas requiring attention. It also provides a snapshot of Queenslands child protection system that can be compared to the baseline established in 2004, enabling the performance of the department and other government agencies to be monitored and evaluated. The report can be viewed online at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

...ush it out into the open where it belongs, where it can be seen, and where it can be confronted.
Mike Reynolds, Child Safety Minister
Stability of placement for children in out-of-home care is an indicator of the quality of services provided to children and this report points to more long-term, rewarding home environments for vulnerable children unable to live with their own families, Mr Reynolds said. These children have often experienced signicant upheaval and trauma in their lives

DISCUSSING THE REPORT ARE, FROM LEFT, DIRECTOR, PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION BRANCH, CARINA MULLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POLICY AND PROGRAMS, MICHAEL WALSH, CHILD SAFETY MINISTER, MIKE REYNOLDS, AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NORELLE DEETH.

16

GENERAL NEWS

New Carers Directory improves service delivery

For the departments Crisis Care team, the introduction of the new Carers Directory prior to the Christmas school holidays their busiest time was a welcome relief. The Crisis Care team piloted the new centralised database of carers and care services ahead of the Directorys statewide rollout to Zonal Ofces and Child Safety Service Centres from 23 November. Crisis Care Manager Amanda Currie said the Carers Directory had already signicantly improved the Crisis Teams responsiveness and effectiveness when placing children. It is a quantum leap forward for the department and everyone is excited, Amanda said. Crisis Care Team Leader June Liston said that over the Christmas school holiday period the number of calls escalated. The arrival of the Carers Directory ahead of our peak period made a tremendous difference. It streamlined our work, and increased our carer search capability and access to critical information. This translated to improved responsiveness and better support for children and carers, June said. Everyone benets from the Carers Directory. The Crisis Care team was involved in the development of the Carers Directory, providing valuable input and feedback to the Integrated Client Management System (ICMS) Project team.

We are now able to place children with a greater level of condence knowing the approval status of carers and that the information we are accessing is current.
Amanda Currie, Crisis Care Manager
CRISIS CARE TEAM MEMBERS TEAM LEADER JUNE LISTON (FRONT), JOE LEADBETTER (LEFT) AND MANAGER AMANDA CURRIE USING THE NEW CARERS DIRECTORY.

Until now a lot of time has been spent trying to locate available carers across the state. This centralised system with almost real time information means we are able to place children more efciently and effectively. Amanda said that having access to complete, accurate information about carers, their availability for placements and their approval status directly helped children, carers, families and the community. We are now able to place children with a greater level of condence knowing the approval status of carers and that the information we are accessing is current. Each year, Crisis Care receives more than 70,000 calls, the majority of which require urgent short-term placements for children at risk.

Before the Carers Directory was introduced, existing sources of carer information were cleansed to ensure details were current and accurate. This process was conducted in partnership with Child Safety Service Centres, carers and agencies. New procedures have been introduced to ensure carer details are updated within 48 hours so that information remains accurate. The Carers Directory is the rst module of the departments new integrated client management system (ICMS) being introduced progressively over the next 18 months.

17

GENERAL NEWS

Guide for young people leaving care

The Department of Child Safety has launched a special guide to help young people make the important transition from living in care to independent adulthood. The guide, Where to from here?, is a directory of services, benets and organisations available to help young people establish independent lives in the community. Minister for Child Safety, Mike Reynolds, launched the guide at the inaugural Youth Expo held recently in Cairns to promote awareness of government and community resources available to young people. The departments Far Northern Zonal Director, Brenda Campbell, said the transition to adulthood could be both an exciting and daunting experience for young people, particularly those who had been in care. When a young person turns 18, the departments child protection orders nish and the department no longer has a legal role as their guardian, Brenda said. However, we are committed to assisting young people in care when they leave the system. While many have family and friendship support networks to help them meet the challenges ahead, some need that extra support from government and community agencies, she said. Where to from here? includes practical information and contact details for agencies and organisations that can assist young people to register for benets, nd employment and accommodation, access health and legal services, and explore education and training options. The guide is a handy tool for all young people, not just teenagers leaving foster care, Brenda said. Lots of parents will want to access this information for their children when they leave home. Where to from here? can be downloaded from the Department of Child Safety website at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/publications For further information, contact the Children in Care team on 07 3224 8431.

FROM LEFT ARE CHILD SAFETY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, ROBIN SULLIVAN, MARION BARNETT OF GANYJUU RECOGNISED ENTITY, MARGARET PERRY OF LOGAN DISTRICT ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS CORPORATION FOR ELDERS, MIKE REYNOLDS, CHILD SAFETY MINISTER, PEGGY TIDYMAN OF MURRIGUNYAH ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CORPORATION FOR WOMEN, AND MENESSIA NAGIE OF NUTCHA RECOGNISED ENTITY.

Child Safety ofces being opened all over Queensland

In the 18 months since the Department of Child Safety was ofcially launched, its accommodation program has made its mark all over Queensland, literally. From Nerang on the Gold Coast to Atherton on the Tablelands, new purpose-built Child Safety Service Centres are being constructed to house the departments child protection services. In addition to the construction of new ofces, departmental ofces in established premises are undergoing new t-outs to provide modern ofce environments for child protection workers. In December 2005, Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds opened the most recent of the departments new ofces the Logan and Brisbane West Zonal Ofce at 6 Ewing Road, Woodridge. Mr Reynolds said the facility would increase the departments ability to help vulnerable children and young people in the region. In the 2004-05 nancial year, the Logan and Brisbane West Zone received 6,804 notications of alleged harm, or risk of harm, to children and young people living within the zone, Mr Reynolds said. This new Zonal Ofce will help boost child protection services in Inala, Logan, Browns Plains and Beaudesert in an effort to keep up with these notications. It now has the capacity to accommodate up to 35 staff and has been upgraded to meet modern workplace requirements. Our staff are the biggest asset in Queenslands child protection system and we are committed to investing in them to increase our capacity to deliver quality and accountable child safety services, he said. The establishment of the ofce is part of the Child Safety Departments ofce accommodation initiative, which received an additional $25 million in capital funding over two years in this years state budget ($19.2 million in 2005-06). Agreements have also been signed for the construction of new, purposebuilt Child Safety Service Centres at Woodridge, Redcliffe, Caloundra, Ipswich, Kingston, Edmonton, Aitkenvale, Atherton, Gladstone, Kingaroy and Maryborough. Agreements have also been entered into for new ofces in established premises for the Ipswich and Western Zonal Ofce, Child Safety Service Centres at Alderley, Toowoomba, Rockhampton South, Mount Isa, Innisfail, Thuringowa, as well as Service Delivery Hubs for Cooktown and Mornington.

18

NEWS IN BRIEF

Multiculturalism now embedded in child protection

A new plan to improve child protection services for Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse families was launched before Christmas last year. The Department of Child Safety Multicultural Action Plan 2005-06 was launched on 14 December 2005 in conjunction with the launch of other state government multicultural action plans at the Parliamentary Annexe by Multicultural Affairs Minister Chris Cummins. The plan demonstrates the departments commitment to improving the responsiveness of its child protection services to children and young people, carers and guardians from culturally and linguistically diverse background. This plan is the rst in a series of four annual plans that will be developed and evaluated between 2005 and 2009, and will help ensure multiculturalism is embedded within the core business processes and practices of the agency. The plan can be downloaded from the Department of Child Safety website at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

Beenleigh agencies put their heads together

Representatives from Beenleigh community organisations and local, state and federal government meet twice a year to share information and build networks and relationships with each other. Five local networks meet more regularly to focus on particular areas and then feed directly back into the interagency twice yearly forums. The interagency working group met in December last year in Eagleby to discuss general priorities for the area and identify overlap between the networks and working groups, and the potential for opportunities to link the groups together. The local networks are focussed on youth, housing, mental health, emergency relief and family support services. Some of their successes this year have included fun days in local parks and a community day for mental health week. Working groups have been developed to focus on local priorities for Community Renewal funding allocated to the Beenleigh-Eagleby area, including housing, education and training, health and community wellbeing and crime and safety.

Working groups have been developed to focus on local priorities for Community Renewal Foster allowances increased
The Queensland Government raised fostering allowances at the beginning of 2006 in line with the cost of living increases. Minister for Child Safety Mike Reynolds said the allowances aimed to ensure foster carers were nancially equipped to meet the cost of caring for Queenslands most vulnerable children. Foster carers provide an invaluable service to the community, Mr Reynolds said. No one can put a price tag on the amount of love and security they provide to foster children in their care. However, we can reimburse them for the economic cost of caring for these children by maintaining adequate allowance rates. The following new fortnightly foster allowance rates, which have been increased by 2.5 per cent in line with the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) gures, were effective as of 8 January 2006. Child up to one year of age Child aged two to ve Child aged six to 10 Child aged 11 to 15 Child aged 16 and over $222.57 $236.52 $282.41 $350.11 $329.25

funding allocated to the Beenleigh-Eagleby area...

The December meeting attracted 50 participants from a range of organisations, including youth agencies, mental health support services, child and family agencies and representatives from government departments such as police, health, education and child safety. The feedback from the participants was that the forum had been very benecial and informative, with new connections and relationships formed. The focus for the groups in 2006 will include organising a National Youth Week and continuing to advocate for housing funding in the Beenleigh area.

19

Reach hundreds of child protection practitioners

ADVERTISE HERE
Building Blocks is the magazine published by the Department of Child Safety for the child protection sector of Queensland. Ten editions will be published annually, providing an opportunity for your organisation to place limited advertising of direct relevance to practitioners, carers, academics and others involved in child protection. These ads are intended to promote the exchange of ideas and information, encourage the development of partnerships across the sector and improve outcomes for children in protective care. Suitable advertising would include:

Seminars, conferences and workshops Positions vacant in the sector Public notices of meetings, tenders and grants
Product advertising of a general nature is not permitted however advertising for products of direct use to practitioners may be permitted including:

Publications Handbooks and manuals

To nd out more about how to advertise with us, email

buildingblocks@childsafety.qld.gov.au