A meaningful ongoing relationship with their parents is the cornerstone of positive child development. Children’s Contact Services (CCS) provides a service and space to enable parents to develop and maintain safe relationships with children. Families who use CCSs tend to be experiencing high levels of conflict and multiple and complex issues. Good practice guidelines apply for government funded services; though CCS is an unregulated service type and often situated in a complex position where Family Law, Child Protection and criminal proceedings intersect.

In October 2015 Child Family Community Australia published ‘Children’s Contact Services: Key Issues’’ which identified that research to date is unclear as to whether the "best interests of the child" are being met, and there is need to better understand relationship, safety and wellbeing outcomes for children and families who use these services. This provided a catalyst for a review of Interrelate’s CCS to increase service efficacy; measures of child safety improved following changes made as a result of the review. This presentation will discuss the method of the service review, and the practical implementation of a risk matrix framework. We will speak to the challenges of collaboration at the intersection of family law, criminal and child protection systems; and share insights which could inform sector reform and improved regulation. We will demonstrate the improved efficacy of our integrated case management processes which can assist in leading parents to safe self-management. Finally, we will share summary analyses of client outcome measures, evidencing the positive effect of the review.

To ensure that the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland were heard and real participation was at the forefront, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Limited (QATSICPP) developed the concept of the QATSICPP Knowledge Circles.

Knowledge Circles have a strong focus on ascertaining information to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children. The Knowledge Circles integrate the process of ‘yarning’ which is a highly effective tool and/or process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. From previous Knowledge Circles, QATSICPP has been able to obtain information pertaining to community needs in relation to child protection and how they are being affected and what is needed to move forward.

Knowledge Circles have been successful for QATSICPP in identifying the needs of a community in relation to what they want and hope for in relation to child protection as well as for the work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Reform Project which aims to assist in addressing the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families in the child protection system.

These Knowledge Circles have been utilized in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in urban, rural, regional and remote settings.

Aboriginal Community Control has taken shape in Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a way that excludes many communities, organisations, families and children. The current definition originating from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is proscriptive and used heavily by governments.

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Limited (QATSICPP) consulted with its Member Organisations and community members in order to redefine Aboriginal Community Control in a more practical and holistic manner inclusive of everyone. Additionally, the redefining of Aboriginal Community Control and the consultations sought to put the power back into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children to determine their futures and be recognised as being best placed to care, nurture and protect their children emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.

This presentation will discuss and provide the findings and the proposed definition of Aboriginal Community Control, which both will be presented to Australian governments in order to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to both determine their futures and furthermore, access funding that is currently going to non-Aboriginal organisations that claim to service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.