CONCURRENT SESSION 2 - stream 1
Tracks
Track 1
| Monday, May 15, 2017 |
| 3:10 PM - 4:10 PM |
| Boulevard Auditorium |
Speaker
Professor Patrick O'Leary
Professor of Social Work
Griffith University
What has changed in decades of investment in child protection? – Have we made a difference?
Abstract
Controversies in child protection paint a gloomy yet inaccurate picture of the long-term effectiveness of public investment in child protection. Civil society over decades has advocated for greater public investment child protection. Countries such as Australia and the United States have responded with legislative and policy reform requiring increased public spending in child protection and associated social/welfare systems. Growing awareness of the ravages of child abuse and neglect has seen increases in report rates. Cumulatively this has adversely impacted system responses. Research and practical experience has highlighted a complex aetiological issue. Increased public scrutiny on tragic and controversial cases of child abuse and neglect has seen greater questioning of the effectiveness and investment in child protection systems and the associated professionals. ‘System’ failures can obscure the long-term trends of decreased incidences of physical and sexual violence against children. Of course it would be foolish to suggest the ‘system’ is perfect or gets all the resourcing it needs. Yet for downward trends in prevalence and with reporting rates remaining relatively high, suggests cultural change in the way that child abuse and neglect occurs and viewed. Is this a cause for celebration or simply a reinforcement that more must be done? In this presentation the author advocates that years of public investment in child protection has paid dividends for a safer childhood today, and how this is strong platform for further investment in innovative and evidence-based child protection systems and social protection programming.
Biography
Professor Patrick O’Leary is an internationally recognised researcher with significant expertise in child protection, child protection in social development and humanitarian contexts, social work, gender-based violence, long-term impact of child sexual abuse (especially in men) and socially excluded young people. Over the last ten years he has conducted a number of complex research projects in Australia, USA, UK, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Albania, Sudan, Nepal and Lebanon for international clients including Terre des hommes, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and UNICEF. Professor O’Leary’s work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice. Currently Professor O’Leary is commissioned as an Expert Academic Advisor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a particular focus on male victims and the long-term effects. He is a Senior Innocenti Research Fellow for UNICEF Office of Research, since September 2016. Over the last 12 years he has been successful in obtaining more then three million dollars in competitive research and consultancy funding.
Ms Rosie Teague
Senior Advisor
Queensland Family and Child Commission
Can the use of Rumble’s Quest, a new measure of child wellbeing, benefit NGOs? Findings from a Brisbane implementation trial
Abstract
Rumble’s Quest, an innovative new measure developed by Dr Kate Freiberg and Professor Ross Homel from Griffith University, allows children to report on their own feelings and wellbeing through an interactive computer game.
This measure has previously only been used in schools. In 2017, the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) commenced a trial using Rumble’s Quest in an alternative context: selected family support services in a disadvantaged Brisbane suburb.
Through the trial the QFCC aimed to identify, address and document any issues or limitations for family support services in implementing Rumble’s Quest with children and to document feedback in terms of identified benefits.
It was anticipated that using the measure would assist family support services in identifying where children may be in need of assistance individually or as a group and in enabling responsive program planning. Rumble’s Quest would also provide services with important data to evaluate the effect of the work they undertook with children and families.
This paper reports on initial feedback obtained from NGO family support service staff who completed focus groups and/or semi-structured interviews about their experiences in using the measure. It presents information about the resourcing requirements that were required to run the measure at services and implementation issues. It also provides preliminary details about how services used the information they gained.
The paper will conclude by considering how the use of Rumble’s Quest in an NGO context can promote child safe organisations and environments.
This measure has previously only been used in schools. In 2017, the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) commenced a trial using Rumble’s Quest in an alternative context: selected family support services in a disadvantaged Brisbane suburb.
Through the trial the QFCC aimed to identify, address and document any issues or limitations for family support services in implementing Rumble’s Quest with children and to document feedback in terms of identified benefits.
It was anticipated that using the measure would assist family support services in identifying where children may be in need of assistance individually or as a group and in enabling responsive program planning. Rumble’s Quest would also provide services with important data to evaluate the effect of the work they undertook with children and families.
This paper reports on initial feedback obtained from NGO family support service staff who completed focus groups and/or semi-structured interviews about their experiences in using the measure. It presents information about the resourcing requirements that were required to run the measure at services and implementation issues. It also provides preliminary details about how services used the information they gained.
The paper will conclude by considering how the use of Rumble’s Quest in an NGO context can promote child safe organisations and environments.
Biography
Dr Rosie Teague commenced her research career as a PhD student working on the Pathways to Prevention Project led by Professor Ross Homel. Her research interests include child wellbeing, out-of-home care and parenting. She is currently working as a researcher at the Queensland Family and Child Commission.
Mr Michael Hawton
Director
Parentshop NSW
Tough Conversations in Child Protection
3:40 PM - 3:55 PMAbstract
In this workshop, participants will learn part of a method to:
1. Comprehensively gather information for holding a factual conversation with a parent, so that as many of the facts (as can be reasonably gathered) are brought to bear in tough conversations with parents.
2. Defuse antagonism in tough conversations while holding holding a firm line so that 'initiators' of tough conversations can keep control of the conversation being held.
3. Identify important ‘dashboard’ markers for parents so that everyone is on the ‘same page’ about what’s expected, within a given timespan.
.
In this workshop, participants will be shown one important way to assess the main issues in a child protection matter (using a worksheet template) and to know how to respond if they are interrupted. That is, the workshop will show workers how to hold their ground, but also 'hear' what is important to parents without losing the thread in a scripted tough conversation in child protection matters. .
1. Comprehensively gather information for holding a factual conversation with a parent, so that as many of the facts (as can be reasonably gathered) are brought to bear in tough conversations with parents.
2. Defuse antagonism in tough conversations while holding holding a firm line so that 'initiators' of tough conversations can keep control of the conversation being held.
3. Identify important ‘dashboard’ markers for parents so that everyone is on the ‘same page’ about what’s expected, within a given timespan.
.
In this workshop, participants will be shown one important way to assess the main issues in a child protection matter (using a worksheet template) and to know how to respond if they are interrupted. That is, the workshop will show workers how to hold their ground, but also 'hear' what is important to parents without losing the thread in a scripted tough conversation in child protection matters. .
Biography
Michael Hawton is a registered psychologist, trained teacher, author, international speaker, media commentator and father of two. Michael 30 years experience working with children and families including in his private practice, working with The United Nations in Seychelles. He is highly experienced report writer in both The NSW Children's Court and in The Family Court of Australia. Michael’s training programs include 1-2-3 Magic® and Emotion Coaching, Engaging Adolescents and Tough Conversations in Child Protection. Over 110,000 parents have attended programs authored by Michael - and his books Talk Less Listen More and Engaging Adolescents (collectively) have sold over 50 K copies worldwide.
Chair
Simon Schrapel AM
Uniting Communities
