A sense of security, stability, continuity, and social support are strong predictors of better long-term outcomes for children and young people. Out-of-home care plays a significant role in shaping the lives and development of children and young people who experience it.

The National Standards for Out-of-home Care (the ‘National Standards’), a priority project under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, have been designed to drive improvements in the consistency and quality of care provided to children and young people who are unable to live with their families and are under the statutory care of the Minister or Chief Executive in states and territories.

A national survey of children aged 8–17 residing in out-of-home care was conducted in 2015. The data collected allow for reporting against 8 indicators under the National Standards for the first time. The survey injects the voices of these children into the national discourse about them, and provides insights into their sense of security, connectedness, participation, and preparation for life after care.

There is a growing body of international research to inform our understanding of the circumstances in which filicide, parents killing their children, has occurred.

The possibility that a parent will kill their child is not a thought any family member or professional wishes to entertain. Yet the reality that parenting is one of the most stressful, challenging, highly emotional roles any one undertakes is widely recognised. What is less well appreciated is that the adult experience of separation is a situation in which there can be increased risk to the to children, and that the interplay of compounding issues has seen adults commit cruel and lethal acts to those they say they love and are obligated to protect.

This presentation provides key findings from academic and practice based research to propose steps we can take to assist professionals, families members and the general public to recognise the potential for lethal risk to children in the context of family separation, with implications identified for policy and systems change.

The presentation draws on the international body of research from the 2015 International conference Towards Preventing Filicide, with a focus on the Australian research by Brown, Dyson & Fernandez Arias (2014) for translating knowledge into practice.

The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) was developed after consultations with families by the US Connecticut Commissioner on Children revealed that parents lack advocacy skills, but not the motivation or will to change their children’s lives. The program was initiated in 1992 and now runs in 15 states in America. In 2016 The Family Inclusion Network formed a partnership with PLTI and undertook a pilot in Brisbane with 26 parents. US evaluation outcomes have shown that parents who have undertaken the 20 week program have significantly increased their civic actions and are able to participate in and contribute to their communities about the issues that matter to their families. A sample of the weekly topics for parents include: Change Processes and Parents as Change Agents, How local and state government work, what is public policy, understanding budgets, social and economic trends impacting families and evaluation and outcomes.

The presentation will include a short 3 minute video providing an overview of PLTI, including interviews with three PLTI graduates. A PLTI graduate will be on hand to present their project to the audience providing further context and content. To conclude, the evaluation results from the 2016 Brisbane pilot will be presented.