Our Approach

Our Background

The Institute of Child Protection Studies was established in January 2005 and is a partnership between the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services and ACU National's Canberra Campus (Signadou). This is an exciting and unique new venture and builds on the strong partnership between the two parties that has developed over the past 10 years.

The Institute aims to develop into a leading research organisation, carrying out research which leads to improved practice in the care and protection of children and young people, both nationally and within ACT.

ICPS believes that the care and protection of young people is inextricably linked with the overall well-being of children, families and communities. For the service system to best respond to children and young people, it must continually develop its understanding of their needs, experiences and understandings. Through research, the ICPS aims to work with its partners to ensure ongoing reflection and development is fundamental to the policy process.

All research undertaken by the Institute is underpinned by commitments to

• collaborative approaches to planning and conducting research;
• seeking the views of those affected by a program or service such as client groups and service providers;
• exploring ways of developing research partnerships with key stakeholders including service users; and
• ethical research practice.

Our Aim

To enhance the well-being of children, young people and families through quality research, training and community education

Our Objectives

The objectives of the Institute were identified as:

• Promote good practice in the care and protection of children by assisting in the skill development of practitioners through:
  • Assisting in the development of 'best practice' child protection training
  • Undertaking research into 'best practice' in child protection service delivery
  • Evaluating the success of policies and practice
  • Gathering baseline data to chart the progress of the social, educational and emotional development of children in the care of the Chief Executive
• Inform the development of 'best practice' child protection policy and programs through:
  • Researching successful interstate and overseas models of program delivery
  • Researching 'best practice' policy initiatives and practices
  • Evaluating ACT changes to policy and/or programs and systems
  • Contributing positive strategies and recommendations to enhance service delivery
  • Assisting services to integrate evaluation plans into program and policy development
• Support the promotion of child safety in the community by assisting with:
  • The development of community education and training
  • The development of a workplace seminars on specific child safety issues
• Establishing the University as a leading research player in the area of child protection through:
  • Co-authoring and publishing research papers
  • Developing postgraduate scholarship projects to attract higher degree research students to study in the area of child protection