Completed projects

Investigators

Professor Daryl Higgins, James McDougall, Alex Cahill, Jacqui Stewart, Anna Medvedeva: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University; Professor Michele Riondino, Faculty of Law and Business, Australian Catholic University; Professor Susan Dann, Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University

Funding Source

Australian Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Religious Australia

Aim

The Australian Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Religious Australia commissioned a review of the needs of the Catholic Church in Australia regarding the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable persons.

ICPS undertook a mapping exercise and designed a national safeguarding operational model for the project. We reviewed existing safeguarding regulatory obligations and the needs, opportunities and challenges in providing safeguarding services within the Church. While many Catholic Entities had developed systems and processes designed to prevent and respond to abuse, consulted stakeholders wanted more targeted guidance and support to ensure a consistent approach to the prevention of and response to abuse.

The design of the national safeguarding operational model was informed by stakeholder consultations and an analysis of the recommendations of the 2013 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Our proposed operational model emerged as a national office. The office would oversee and coordinate the consistency, quality, efficacy and coverage of safeguarding and professional standard services across the Church. It would equip and support Church Authorities to continue their safeguarding journey and drive culture change within their members/entities.

The national office would build on existing foundations. It would assume and extend on the tasks and responsibilities of existing national safeguarding bodies within the Church. The office would support the implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) through ongoing collaboration, capacity building, monitoring and auditing. It would help Catholic Entities prepare for and respond to (in complementary ways) the overarching civil regulatory obligations for institutions (including the Church) to meet child safety standards at the state and federal level.

Reports

Higgins, D., Stewart, J., Cahill, A., McDougall, J., & Medvedeva, A. (2020). Catholic Safeguarding Australia: A national office for oversight and coordination of safeguarding and professional standards for the Catholic Church in Australia (A report to the Safeguarding Steering Committee of the Australian Episcopal Conference of the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Religious Australia). Canberra: ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies. ICPS Main Investigator

Investigators

Assoc Prof Tim Moore (Institute of Child Protection Studies) with Professor Anne Graham (Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University), Prof Sally Robinson (Flinders University), Dr Donnah Anderson (Charles Sturt University), Prof Nicola Taylor (University of Otago, NZ), Emeritus Prof Nigel Thomas (University of Central Lancashire, UK), Dr Mary Ann Powell (University of Edinburgh), Dr Paola Castillo (Charles Sturt University), Dr Jenna Meiksans (University of South Australia), Dr Antonia Canosa, Dr Tess Boyle and PhD candidate Meaghan Vosz (Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University)

Funding

Australian Research Council

Status

Complete

Aims

Child safety is now a national policy priority in Australia. Beyond appropriate governance, policy and procedural responses, little is known about what constitutes ethical practice with children and young people, nor how this contributes to cultural conditions that promote their safety and wellbeing.

This collaborative research project aimed to strengthen knowledge, policy and practice concerning 'child-safe' organisations by examining the role of ethical practice in improving children and young people's safety and wellbeing. Ethical understandings and practice were explored in three institutional contexts - schools, residential care and disability services.

Details

This was a mixed methods study involving four phases:

Phase 1: Policy and analysis

A detailed comparative policy analysis reviewing current child safe discourse in relevant policy documents and practice guidelines (n=118) from different international jurisdictions, namely Australia, New Zealand, UK and Ireland.

Phase 2: Interviews

A qualitative phase involved interviews with children, young people, practitioners and managers in nine organisations (across schools, residential care and disability settings) to explore understandings and experiences of ethical practice.

Phase 3: Online survey

A quantitative (online survey) phase tested the findings of Phase 2 with a larger sample of children and practitioners in a wider range of education, residential care and disability settings.

Phase 4: Knowledge exchange

A knowledge exchange phase guided resource and policy development and support professional learning in a range of settings.

Read more about the EPIC project and our progress.

Associated publications

Graham, A., Canosa, A., Wall, J., & Thomas, P. (2023). Child-safe organizations and the ethics of empowered inclusion. Children & society.

Graham, A., Canosa, A., Boyle, T., Moore, T., Taylor, N., Anderson, D., & Robinson, S. (2022). Promoting students' safety and wellbeing: ethical practice in schools. The Australian Educational Researcher, 1-20.

Powell, M. A., Graham, A., Canosa, A., Anderson, D., Taylor, N., Robinson, S., Moore, T. & Thomas, N. P. (2020). Children and Safety in Australian Policy: Implications for Organisations and Practitioners. Australian Journal of Social Issues.

Powell, M. A., Graham, A., Canosa, A., Anderson, D., Moore, T., Robinson, S., Thomas, N. P. & Taylor, N. (2020). Child safety in policy: Who is being kept safe and from what? Social Policy & Administration.

Robinson, S., Graham, A., Canosa, A., Moore, T., Taylor, N., & Boyle, T. (2022). Ethical Practice in Disability Services: Views of Young People and Staff, Ethics and Social Welfare.

Contact

Tim Moore for further information.

Investigators

Assoc Prof Tim Moore, Emeritus Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Sebastian Trew, Alex Cahill

Funding

ACT Community Services Directorate

Status

Complete

Details

Studies in Australia and abroad have highlighted the significant challenges faced by many young people transitioning from out-of-home care. These studies have indicated that they are at heightened risk of homelessness, sexual exploitation, criminality, and mental ill health and can encounter significant barriers to achieving positive engagement with education, employment and training.

Despite these challenges, some Australian and international research highlights that this is not a universal experience, with many care leavers excelling and enjoying what they consider to be a positive transition. Nonetheless, better preparing and supporting young care leavers as they transition from care and towards independence have been identified as national and local priorities in jurisdictions across Australia. Efforts such as the HomeStretch initiative have been implemented in some states and early evaluations have captured positive outcomes.

The ACT government is developing its policy and practice responses to the needs of care leavers. It contracted the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University to capture the lived experience of young Canberrans who were preparing to or have transitioned from care, the observations of local stakeholders about 'what works' and the approaches taken by other Australian jurisdictions to improve outcomes. These findings aimed to inform the development of a model to support young people in the ACT.

Project phases

Listening to young people: Interviews were conducted with young people who were preparing to or who had transitioned from care in the ACT.

Sector consultations and scoping review: A brief scoping review identified existing academic and grey literature (including results of evaluations) to provide insights into approaches to support young people's transitions. In addition, focus groups were convened with stakeholders from the ACT sector and interviews were completed with policy-makers and senior child protection practitioners in a sample of other Australian jurisdictions.

Publications

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Trew, S., & Cahill, A. (2023). I'm free but have no support: young people's experiences as they transition from care in the ACT. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University

Contact

Tim Moore for further information.

Investigators

Dr Aino Suomi, Nina Lucas, Institute of Child Protection Studies; Associate Professor Nicki Dowling, School of Psychology, Deakin University; Professor Paul Delfabbro, School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide

Funding

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, 2020-2021

Aims

The broad aim of the project was to systematically identify and map out gambling harms experienced by children due to parental gambling. The specific research questions were:

1. What are the specific types of gambling related harm experienced by children of gambling parents?
2. What is the relationship between parental gambling severity and gambling harm to children?
3. What other factors (demographics, comorbidities, parenting, family functioning) contribute to the relationship between parental problem gambling and child wellbeing?

Details

Family and relationships are commonly cited when estimating the economic and psychological costs of gambling harm. However, very little research exists on the effect of gambling harm experienced by the children of gamblers. This study sought to examine and map out the specific types of gambling harm experienced by children by directly asking children and parents themselves.

3 stages of the project:

1. Review of available literature on gambling harm on children related to parental gambling.
2. National online survey of around:
   1. 200 children of gambling parents
   2. 200 gambling parents
   3. 100 non-gambling parents affected by co-parent's gambling.
3. In-depth qualitative interviews of the mechanism between parental gambling and harm experienced by children.

The data collection for the study finished in the first half of 2021, and data analysis has been completed. Analysis looked at specific patterns of harm that children experience as a result of parental problem gambling that may involve emotional, behavioural, interpersonal, and financial problems as well as exposure to family violence and other family welfare concerns.

The outcomes of the study can be used for public health messaging to encourage help-seeking for gambling harm. They can also inform treatment approaches for gamblers who are parents, their children and significant others.

Key findings

The study found that parents and children identified different patterns and degrees of harm to children caused by parental gambling. Parents reported lower incidents of harm, and commonly focused on financial impacts. Children however reported higher incidents of harm, and mainly focused on the psychosocial impacts of parental problem gambling.

Adult children exposed to parental gambling reported more current mental health problems compared to participants who had not been exposed to parental gambling. These were related to specific types of harm as a result of parental problem gambling, particularly verbal and physical abuse, and child welfare calls.

Parental problem gambling severity was found to have a negative impact on predicting offspring problem gambling severity. The results suggest that being exposed to severe psychosocial consequences of parental gambling may act as a deterrent against problematic gambling behaviours in later life.

Publications

Constantinou, M (2020). Problem gambling and families: the hidden voices of children. IMPACT, Australian Catholic University.

Dowling, N. A., Oldenhof, E., Cockman, S., Suomi, A., Merkouris, S. S., & Jackson, A. C. (2019). Problem gambling and family violence: Factors associated with family violence. victimisation and perpetration in problem gamblers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Suomi, A., Bailey, M., Lucas, N., Dowling, N., & Delfabbro, P. (2023). "It's like you're not even there…": Gambling harm experienced by children of gambling parents. Children and Youth Services Review: 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106800

Suomi, A., Lucas, N., Dowling, N., Delfabbro, P. (2021). Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne.

Suomi, A., Dowling, N. A., Thomas, S. A., Abbott, M., Bellringer, M., Battersby, M., … & Jackson, A. C. (2018). Patterns of intimate partner and family violence in problem gamblers. Journal of GamblingStudies, 1-20.

Roberts, A., Landon, J., Sharman, S., Hakes, J., Suomi, A., & Cowlishaw, S. (2018). Gambling and physical intimate partner violence: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions (NESARC). The American Journal on Addictions, 27(1), 7.

Cowlishaw, S., Suomi, A., & Rodgers, B. (2016). Implications of gambling problems for family and interpersonal adjustment: Results from the Quinte Longitudinal Study. Addiction. 111(9), 1628-1636.

Dowling, N. A., Suomi, A., Jackson, A. C., Lavis, T., Patford, J., Cockman, S., Thomas, S., Bellringer, M., Koziol-Mclain, J., Battersby, M., Harvey, P., & Abbott, M. (2016). Problem gambling and intimate partner violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. IF: 4.33

Dowling, N. A., Jackson, A. C., Suomi, A., Lavis, T., Thomas, S. A., Patford, J., … & Bellringer, M. E. (2014). Problem gambling and family violence: Prevalence and patterns in treatment-seekers. Addictive Behaviors, 39(12), 1713-1717.

Suomi, A., Jackson, A. C., Dowling, N. A., Lavis, T., Patford, J., Thomas, S. A., Harvey, P., Abbott, M., Bellringer, M. E., Koziol-McLain, J., & Cockman, S. (2013). Problem gambling and family violence: family member reports of prevalence, family impacts and family coping. Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, 3(1), 1-15

Suomi, A., Lucas, N., Dowling, N., & Delfabbro, P. (2021). Parental problem gambling and child wellbeing: Systematic review and synthesis of evidence, Addictive Behaviors, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107205

Contact

For further details contact us.

Investigators

Dr Aino Suomi, Institute of Child Protection Studies; Associate Professor Nicki Dowling, Deakin University

Funding source

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation for 2019-2020

Aims

1. Develop an evidence-based framework for engaging individuals with lived experience of gambling-related harms in research.
2. Examine how co-morbid conditions and gambling impact on the experiences of formal treatment (including both gambling and mental health treatment) and the pathways into treatment.
3. Better understand how co-morbid and multimorbid conditions interact with gambling related harms in the process of recovery from gambling.

Details

Phase 1

During this phase we developed an evidence-based framework for the engagement of individuals with lived experience of gambling related harm. The framework included strategies for multiple levels of engagement in research and provided clear guidance as to the appropriate definitions and lived experience terminology for gambling context. Research questions:

1. What is the appropriate terminology around the lived experience of gambling-related harms including key definitions of lived experience in the context of gambling research and treatment?
2. What are the existing frameworks for engagement of people with lived experience of gambling in research?
3. What is the evidence for what works (and what does not) in these frameworks?
4. What are the key components of an engagement framework that covers all elements of research?
5. What practical, measurable indicators of engagement impact exist and how can they be built into the framework?
6. Which mechanisms of accountability are effective for ensuring engagement beyond tokenism?

Phase 2

During this phase we applied the model developed in Phase 1 to examine the lived experience of gambling-related harms and co-existing mental health conditions. Research questions:

1. In what ways do co-existing mental health/AOD problems and gambling-related harm interact?
2. What role does the complexity of co-existing conditions play in help-seeking decisions and journeys through treatment services?
   • How do co-existing conditions impact on treatment entry, persistence or drop-out?
   • What are the treatment histories prior to the current treatment episode?
   • What are the aspects of treatment that are the most helpful and least helpful in relation to managing gambling-related harm and co-existing mental health conditions?
3. What is the relationship between potential trauma, gambling and other mental health issues (including family violence)?
4. What is the history of help-seeking prior to the most recent treatment 'episode' (treatment pathways)?

Associated publications

Suomi, A., Dowling, N.A., Thomas, S. et al. (2019). Patterns of Family and Intimate Partner Violence in Problem Gamblers. Journal of Gambling Studies. 35: 465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9768-9.

Suomi, A., Freeman, B., & Banfield, M. (2017). Framework for the engagement of people with a lived experience in program implementation and research. Australian National University, Canberra.

Suomi, A., & Dowling, N. (2020). Lived experience of help-seeking in the presence of gambling related harms and coexisting mental health conditions. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne.

Suomi, A. Dowling, N. A., & Jackson, A. C. (2014). Problem gambling subtypes based on psychological distress, alcohol abuse and impulsivity.Addictive Behaviors, 39(12), 1741-1745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.023.

Lubman, D., Manning, V., Dowling, N., Rodda, S., Lee, S., Garde, E., Merkouris, S. & Volberg, R. (2017). Problem gambling in people seeking treatment for mental illness. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne.

Contact

For further details contact us.

Investigators

Professor Daryl Higgins, James McDougall, Sebastian Trew and Dr Aino Suomi

Funding

Australian Government National Mental Health Commission

Aims

To identify issues of stigma and advise on how to address stigma for people with mental ill health in the Family Court and child protection processes

Project details

People involved in family court or child protection processes who have mental health issues can be subjected to stigma and discrimination. We were approached by the National Mental Health Commission who requested a high-level rapid evidence review of the issues relating to their experiences. The purpose of the review was to identify issues and implications for areas where work can be done to address stigma in three domains: self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma/discrimination.

Read more about the National Mental Health Commission National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy

Other contributors

We also acknowledge Jessica Dickson (Senior Librarian, Australian Catholic University) for assistance with the literature search, and Dr Rachel Carson (Senior Research Fellow) and Gillian Lord (Librarian) from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) for identifying relevant AIFS publications.

Impact

The review will inform the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy for the National Mental Health Commission and build a better service system and society for those who experience mental ill health.

Our report is one of many background briefs and research papers commissioned or supported by the Commission. These publications are the evidence base on which the Commission will base its initial thinking to develop the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. View all publications, including our report (PDF, 726KB) and the research summary (PDF, 161KB) of our report.

We provided an overview of the family court and child protection systems, and how mental ill health can affect a person's experience and outcomes within these systems. Our report identifies areas for possible consideration in addressing stigma and discrimination in these systems, opportunities for broader service improvement, as well as potential topics for further research. Some of the actions we suggest to address stigma and discrimination in child protection and family law systems include:

• Build mental health literacy and disability awareness in the child protection and family law workforces.
• Provideearly and broad access to opportunities to build parenting capacity.
• Address intersecting, compounding stigma.
• Develop and promote rights-based practice frameworks for use in child protection and family services.
• System improvements - individualised approaches and cross-system collaboration.

The National Mental Health Commission released the overarching draft strategy in 2022 for public consultation and invites feedback by I Feb 2023.

Find out more about how to provide feedback, and access the draft Strategy

Publications

Higgins, D., McDougall, J., Trew, S., & Suomi, A. (2021). Experiences of people with mental ill-health involved in family court or child protection processes: A rapid evidence review (PDF, 726KB).. A report to the National Mental Health Commission. Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. DOI: 10.24268/acu.8w64y

National Mental Health Commission (2022). Research summary: Stigma and discrimination experiences of people with mental ill-health involved in family court or child protection processes (PDF, 161KB). Australian Government, Canberra

Contact

For further information send us an email.

Investigators

James McDougall, Alex Cahill and Carelink staff

Funding

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Aims

To build and support child safe and child centred safeguarding practice

Project details

Carelink designs and delivers services for adult survivors of abuse and their partners and families. The survivors have experienced sexual and other forms of abuse perpetrated by clergy and other individuals appointed or employed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Carelink coordinates counselling and support for adult survivors.

Carelink also supports children and young people as family members and is developing workforce skills and capabilities to support survivors who are children and young people. We are working with Carelink to ensure the organisation is both child safe and child centred with appropriate safeguarding polices for children and young people.

Our work was informed by our knowledge and understanding of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013-17). The Royal Commission made numerous recommendations and outlined regulatory and best practice reforms for child safety in the Catholic Church community and in civil society.

Our work for Carelink was also informed by the Child Safe Standards in Victoria and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: child-friendly poster. See the full details of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We developed guidelines to help staff engage with children and young people based on clear communication techniques and child-centred practice. The guidelines were based on human rights principles such as respect, safety and wellbeing, equity and diversity, and accountability. We also developed a guide to safeguarding in practice that is centred on a trauma-informed care and practice service delivery model underpinned by positive practice.

Practice Guidelines addressed:

• participation
• safety and wellbeing
• respect
• child centred practice
• protective practice
• relationships
• equity and diversity
• listening and responding
• learning
• accountability.

Consent & Privacy Guidelines addressed:

• reporting and responding
• record keeping
• rights to information and privacy
• complaints processes.

Impact

Survivors of abuse will benefit from better safeguarding practices, and a safeguarding approach with child-centred and child-safe practice will provide better protection for vulnerable children and young people.

Contact

For further details contact us.

Investigators

Sebastian Trew, Douglas Russell, Prof. Daryl Higgins

Funding source

Prepared for the National Suicide Prevention Advisor and the National Suicide Prevention Taskforce, commissioned through the Australian Government Department of Health Suicide Prevention Research Fund, managed by Suicide Prevention Australia, Suicide Prevention Research Fund

Objectives

1. Consolidate understandings of the role that risk factors associated with childhood trauma and interactions with the child protection and out-of-home system play in suicidal behaviour.
2. Raise awareness of what interventions are effective in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours among children and young people in touch with the out of home care system.
3. Inform decision making on what evidence-based interventions may be most appropriate and feasible to deliver for children within the Australian context to reduce suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and deaths by suicide for at risk children and young people in touch with the out of home care system.

Findings and implications

Addressing key priority 1 of the Suicide Prevention Research Fund - to learn more about 'what works' to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviour - we conducted a literature review on interventions that focused on wellbeing and were designed for out-of-home care for at-risk children and young people. We then analysed whether and how these interventions were effective in reducing suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and deaths by suicide.

Further, addressing key priority 2 relating to factors that are protective against suicide, we identified protective factors (e.g., access to clinical interventions and support for help seeking) that contributed to the effectiveness of an intervention.

We found limited evidence on effective interventions that specifically address the risk of suicide-related behaviours for children and young people in the child protection system and in out-of-home care. Globally only two studies have evaluated the efficacy of interventions to reduce suicidal behaviours in young people in care. We suggest that services adopt high-quality evaluations of part of any existing interventions that are trauma informed to reduce suicidal behaviour in young people interacting with child protection and out-of-home care systems across Australia.

Key findings

• Trauma of children and young people in OOHC is directly related to risk factors for suicidal behaviour.
• Suicide was 4.9 times more likely for young people in care compared to young people without a history of child abuse and neglect.
• Only two interventions were found that were designed specifically to prevent or address risk factors for suicide in OOHC settings that have been evaluated and shown to reduce suicide-related behaviours.

Recommendations

• Adapt, implement, and evaluate existing clinical interventions that target suicidal behaviours in the general population for young people in OOHC
• Implement trauma-focused interventions and trauma-informed care models in OOHC
• Develop trauma-focused interventions to support the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, who are overrepresented in the Australian child protection and care systems
• Adapt high-quality evaluations of any current intervention to reduce suicidal behaviour in young people interacting with child protection and OOHC

Background

The report was prepared for the National Suicide Prevention Adviser and the National Suicide Prevention Taskforce, commissioned through the Suicide Prevention Research Fund, managed by Suicide Prevention Australia.

The Fund was established by the Commonwealth Government to support world-class research into suicide prevention and facilitate the rapid translation of knowledge into more effective services for individuals, families and communities.

The Taskforce worked with an Expert Advisory Group, a Commonwealth Interdepartmental Committee and a State and Territory committee to identify key priorities: research to understand the experiences of people with lived experience of a suicidal crisis and/or a suicide attempt and evidence reviews to enhance planning for cross-portfolio initiatives.
Our report was one of five evidence checks commissioned through the Fund. All evidence checks are available on the Suicide Prevention Australia website.

Outputs

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2020). Reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviour in young people in contact with child protection. [Video]. Suicide Prevention Australia. https://youtu.be/P5q_W1aipJ4

Trew, S., Russell, D. H., & Higgins, D. (2020). Effective interventions to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours among children in contact with child protection and out-of-home care systems - a rapid evidence review. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. https://doi.org/10.26199/5f1771a5a6b9e

Suicide Prevention Australia. (2020). Effective interventions to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours among children in contact with child protection and out-of-home care systems - a rapid evidence review. [Infographic]. Suicide Prevention Australia.

Russell, D. H., Trew, S., & Higgins, D. J (2021). Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000555

Investigators

Assoc Prof Tim Moore, Dr Sebastian Trew, Alex Cahill (Institute of Child Protection Studies); Bill Pritchard, Vicki Barton (Curijo)

Funding

ACT Community Service Directorate

Status

Complete

Aims

In 2022, the ACT Community Services Directorate commissioned researchers from the Institute of Child Protection Studies and Curijo, an Aboriginal-owned profit-for-purpose company, to capture the lived experience of kinship carers as well as observations from local stakeholders about what works, and the approaches taken by other Australian jurisdictions to improve outcomes. The project aimed to understand the needs and experiences of kinship carers, particularly during the first 12 months of their engagement with the Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) and long term.

Publications

Trew, S., Moore, T., Pritchard, B. & Barton, V. (2023). It shouldn't be a battle - we need support: kinship carers needs and engagement with services in the ACT. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University; Curijo.

Moore, T., Trew, S., Pritchard, B., Barton, V. & Cahill, A. (2023). Stepping back from the edge: Improving supports for family members caring for children in the ACT. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University; Curijo.

Contact

Tim Moore for more information

Investigators

Assoc Prof Tim Moore, Alex Cahill, Sebastian Trew (Institute of Child Protection Studies); Dr Stewart McDougall (University of Edinburgh; Dr Sarah Cox, Ebony Tucker, Dr Martine Hawkes (University of South Australia)

Funding

South Australian Early Intervention Research Directorate

Aims

Across Australia, young people who have experienced maltreatment and/or engagement with child protection and homeless systems are more likely for their children to be removed from their care than others. This study aims to build the evidence about ways that multigenerational child protection engagement might be reduce by understanding young people's aspirations towards parenting and relationships.

Status

Complete

Aims

In 2021, the South Australian Department of Human Services (the Department) funded the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia (ACCP) to conduct a study to better understand the needs and experiences of young people who had experienced maltreatment or who had been otherwise engaged in the child protection or youth homelessness systems. The study was guided by a series of research questions, including:

• What are the broad aspirations of young people, and specific aspirations related to parenting?
• What influences young people's aspirations for parenting?
• What are the implications for policy and practice?

After completing this study, the Department was interested in exploring the experiences of young people who become parents. They commissioned the Institute of Child Protection Studies to conduct a nested study to consider the experiences of young people with experience of out-of-home care or homelessness who had become parents before turning 25. The nested study aimed to answer the broad research questions, while also considering:

• What is the nature of the pathways to parenting of young parents with adverse childhoods?
• Do aspirations (including towards parenting) influence or match their intent and behaviours?

Publications

Moore, T., Cahill, A., & McDougall, S., (2022). I wasn't quite ready: The aspirations and pathways to parenting of young people who are parents. Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

McDougall, S., Moore, T., Cox, S., & Arney, F. (2023). Parenting aspirations of Australian young people who have experienced adversity: "I'll work on everything else before working on having a kid". Children and Youth Services Review, 145, 106715.

Contact

Tim Moore for further information.

Investigators

James McDougall, Institute of Child Protection Studies; Commissioner for Children and Young People Tasmania Policy Team

Funding

Tasmanian Government

Aims

To provide sound policy support for effective engagement with children and young people

Project details

This project is built on the principle that children and young people have rights, including the right to have a say in decisions that affect their lives. We worked with the Policy team at the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) Tasmania to provide advice on how to support those rights. We also helped them review and update policies and procedures to enable and support engagement with children and young people.

This work informed the new Policy Framework that guides the work of the Commissioner in promoting and empowering the participation of children and young people in decision-making which affects them, or the expressing of opinions on matters which may affect their lives.

The Policy Framework reviewed and updated materials and procedures that addressed issues and challenges such as consultations, ethical practice, consent, and the use of images.

Impact

The project contributes to knowledge and learning that enables the engagement of children and young people in decision making and public policy development.

Children and young people will be supported to be involved safely and ethically in policy and decision making.

The Policy Framework will be available publicly to guide community and government in engagement. It will help CCYP Tasmania offer leadership to the Tasmanian community in the protection, participation and engagement of children and young people.

Contact

For further details contact icps@acu.edu.au

The kContact study developed and trialled a contact program for children in long-term care who were having supervised contact with their parents; it aimed to contribute to the research evidence by conducting one of the first randomised controlled trials (RCT) of a contact intervention.

It was hypothesised that the kContact intervention would:

• decrease child problem behaviours
• improve relationships between children and parents
• improve the ability of carers and caseworkers to support family contact
• reduce the proportion of contact visits cancelled by parents.

The trial took place between 2015 and 2017 in Victoria and ACT, and between 2017 to 2018 in NSW.

Publications are being produced and will be available as they are published.

The project is a joint initiative between Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS) of the Australian Catholic University, the University of Melbourne, and a number of government and community partners.

Chief Investigators

Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin, Emeritus Prof Morag McArthur, Prof Cathy Humphreys (University of Melbourne)

Funding Source

It was funded by the Australian Research Council ( Linkage Project 130100282), with significant partner contributions. ICPS was also funded by NSW Family and Community Services to expand the study into four NSW sites. 

Ethics Approval

Ethics approval was obtained from the Australian Catholic University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), and ratified by the University of Melbourne HREC. Approvals were also obtained from the responsible government and non-government partner agencies.

Project Team

The kContact Project Team includes researchers from ICPS and the University of Melbourne.

Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin, Chief Investigator, Institute of Child Protection Studies

Prof Morag McArthur, Chief Investigator, Institute of Child Protection Studies

Prof Cathy Humphreys, Chief Investigator, Alfred Felton Chair of Child and Family Social Work, Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne

Dr Aino Suomi, Project Manager, Institute of Child Protection Studies

Dr Margaret Kertesz, Project Manager (Vic) (2014-17), Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne

We also acknowledge the contribution of many project staff members who have moved on to other roles.

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Taplin, S., Lucas, N., Suomi, A., Humphreys, C., Kertesz, M., & McArthur, M. (2021). Parents’ supervised contact visits with their children in care: Factors associated with cancellations. Children & Youth Services Review. 127, 106127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106127.

Suomi, A., Lucas, N., McArthur, M., Humphreys, C., Dobbins, T., & Taplin, S. (2020). Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to Support Parental Contact for Children in Out-of-Home Care. Child Abuse & Neglect.

Bullen, T., Taplin, S., McArthur, M., Humphreys, C., & Kertesz, M. (2017) Interventions to improve supervised contact visits between children in out of home care and their parents: A systematic review. Child & Family Social Work. 22(2), 822–833. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cfs.12301/full

Bullen, T., Taplin, S., McArthur, M., Humphreys, C., & Kertesz, M. (2016). Interventions to improve supervised contact visits between children in out of home care and their parents: A systematic review. Child and Family Social Work.

Taplin, S., Bullen, T., McArthur, M., Humphreys, C., Kertesz, M., & Dobbins, T. (2015). kContact, an enhanced intervention for contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1134. (open access) http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-015-2461-3/fulltext.html

Research Reports

Bullen, T., Taplin, S., Kertesz, M., Humphreys, C., & McArthur, M. (2015). Literature review on supervised contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Other Publications

Taplin, S., & Suomi, A. (2020). Main findings from the kContact trial of a contact intervention to support parents with children in out-of-home care. Canberra: ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies. https://doi.org/10.26199/5f61749c09efa

Suomi, A., Taplin, S., & Tewson, A. (2019). How are foster carers and kinship carers faring in contact visits with birth parents? Findings from the kContact study, Research to Practice Series, Issue 24. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Bullen, T., Taplin, S., & Barry, E. (2015). Supporting quality contact visits for children in out-of-home care. Research to Practice Series, Issue 10. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Taplin, S. & Mattick, R.P. (2014). Supervised contact visits: results from a study of women in drug treatment with children in care. Children and Youth Services Review. 39, 65-72.

Media

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2013, 3 July). Half-million dollar ARC grant for ACU's Institute for Child Protection Studies [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

ACU News. (2020, 14 October). New ACU research will improve supervised contact visits for 45,000 children

Catholic Weekly. (2020, 9 October). ACU Newspaper and online article in Catholic Weekly: Improved contact visits helps foster kids

ACU News. (2020, 9 October). ACU research leads to better contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents

Mirage News. (2020, 9 October). ACU research leads to better contact between children in out-of-home care and their parents

Partner Organisations

In addition to ICPS and the University of Melbourne, a number of organisations in the ACT and Victoria partnered in the kContact project, and have provided significant financial contributions.

ACT

• ACT Community Services Directorate, ACT Government
• Marymead Child and Family Services
• Barnardos

Victoria

Under the umbrella of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare:

• Salvation Army Westcare
• OzChild
• Mackillop Family Services
• CAFS Ballarat
• Baptcare
• Wesley Mission Victoria
• Berry Street

NSW

• NSW Department of Family and Community Services
• CareSouth
• Life Without Barriers
• Uniting
• Anglicare (St Saviours)

For more information about the project, contact Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin

Investigators

Professor Daryl Higgins, Tania McKenna, Jacqui Stewart

Funding

Australian Department of Social Services

Aim

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 provides a framework for action by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to reduce violence against women and their children. It sets out six national outcomes to work towards over the 12-year timeframe.

Action plans exist to drive the fulfilment of these outcomes. A priority of the Third Action Plan 2016-19 was enhanced service responses for children living with violence.

Consistent with this priority, the Working with Children project aimed to build the capacity of practitioners in specialist and mainstream service providers to respond to the impacts of violence on children.

The team developed online modules and facilitator-led training to build the capacity of practitioners to:

• explain the nature and dynamics of domestic and family violence
• recognise the important role that children and young people play in identifying and managing risks to their safety and wellbeing
• articulate key messages from children and young people about their support needs
• identify and implement child-specific assessment, engagement and support tools with children and young people
• recognise organisational policies and procedures that support child-safe and child-centred approaches
• develop/implement strategies to create child-safe and child-friendly environments.

The flexible design of the learning resources makes them suitable for workers with varying expertise. For instance, workers with a strong knowledge of the impacts of family and domestic violence might use the materials to learn about child-centred practices. Workers experienced at working with children can use the materials to learn about the impacts of violence.

The learning content and principles of the Kids Central Toolkit informed the design and delivery of the Working with children initiative. Developed in 2007, the toolkit aims to provide workers and services with information, resources and tools to use child-centred approaches in their work with children, young people and families.

Further links

Kids Central Toolkit

Professional learning and development resources: Safeguarding Children and Young People Portal

Contact ICPS for further information

Investigators

A/Prof Stephanie Taplin (led by Dr Melissa O’Donnell Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia)

Funding source

NSW FACS

Aim

This project builds on and complements the ongoing research that is being conducted by Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin in NSW (Australian Catholic University) and Dr Melissa O’Donnell in WA (Telethon Kids) examining the nature, extent and impacts of removals of infants by the child protection system. By analysing this additional sample of infants from the NSW Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study, a more comprehensive picture of how to improve the out-of-home care experience and trajectories for infants will be obtained, and lead to greater benefits for policy and practice.

For more information, contact Assoc/Prof Stephanie Taplin

Investigators:

Prof Daryl Higgins, Mr Douglas Russell, Prof Alberto Posso (RMIT)

Project Manager:

Douglas Russell

Aim:

Systematic reviews offer a broader and more reliable picture of research undertaken in the past. While many studies have investigated prevention strategies of child sexual abuse in developing and anglophone countries, little research, and no reviews have investigated the success, or challenges, facing prevention strategies in countries with less developed laws and fewer resources. The aim of this systematic review is to identify which types of prevention strategies are used most often, which ones are successful in their aims, and whether this links to preventing child sexual abuse or not.

Outputs:

Investigators

James McDougall, Dr Sheridan Kerr (Institute of Child Protection Studies), , Alasdair Roy OAM (Child Rights Specialist/Consultant Psychologist)

Funding

Marist College Canberra

Aims

To develop safeguarding and respectful relationships in a Catholic school community

Project details

Marist College Canberra is an independent Roman Catholic primary and secondary day school for boys, founded in 1968 by the Marist Brothers. The College has developed a Respectful Relationships Framework to guide its work to support respectful relationships within the school community. The project investigators have supported the roll out of the Framework with advice, support and evaluation using a co-design methodology to build better safeguarding and respect in the school community.

Impact

As the Framework is rolled out, students, teachers, staff, parents and families across all year levels will improve their knowledge of respectful relationships. This will happen against a backdrop of the whole organisation being more informed about safeguarding practices and actively supporting respectful relationships in a faith-based school environment. It may well be a model for other faith-based communities.

Contact

 Contact us for further information.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Dr Debbie Noble-Carr

Funding source:

ACT Community Services Directorate

Aim:

The Family Foundations Program was established at Belconnen Community Service in the ACT to provide evidence-based early intervention services to vulnerable families with children up to 5 years of age. ICPS has been commissioned by the ACT Community Services Directorate to evaluate the extent to which the program has been evaluated as intended, and the extent to which it has made a positive difference to families.
The evaluation will inform the development of policy and practice, particularly in regards to the way that the program understands, relates to, and supports children and families, ultimately improving the service outcomes for these groups in the community.

Reports:

Trew, S., Stewart, J., Thorpe, R., Tewson, A., & Higgins, D. (2019). Family Foundations Outcome Evaluation. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Barker, J., Thorpe, R., & McArthur, M. (2018). Family Foundations Process Evaluation. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University

Practice paper:
Issue 25: Institute of Child Protection Studies (2019). Family Foundations an early intervention parenting support program (PDF, 680KB), Research to Practice Series. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

For more information, contact Sebastian Trew.

Investigators

Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Tim Moore, Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin, in partnership with Prof Anne Graham (Southern Cross University), Dr Merle Spriggs (University of Melbourne) and Dr Jenny Chalmers (University of NSW)

Funding Source

Australian Research Council Discovery Grant

Aim

This project aims to better understand and address the tensions between the protection of children and young people and their participation in social research about sensitive issues. It will do this by exploring how ethics committees, parents, others gatekeepers and children themselves manage and navigate these tensions. It will be conducted between 2015 - 2017.

The study aims to:

• Describe the processes through which children's participation in research is determined, asking: what are the ontological (the way children are constructed), epistemological (what children know), methodological, ethical, professional, ideological and practical factors that influence the decisions of HRECs, gatekeepers, parents and children.
• Identify the key barriers and enablers to children's participation in research about sensitive issues.
• Identify, through the use of scenarios, the factors that influence decision-making including: how gatekeepers assess risk level and the appropriateness of particular research topics and methodologies.
• Use the information collected to provide more nuanced and urgently-needed guidance to HRECs and other gatekeepers on how to best identify the risks and benefits of children's participation in research, and guidance to researchers on how to help ensure children's rights and wellbeing are attended to throughout the entire research process.

Outputs

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Graham, A., Jenny Chalmers, Powell, M.A. & Taplin, S. (2020) Children and young people’s decision-making in social research about sensitive issues, Children's Geographies, DOI: 10.1080/14733285.2020.1866749

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2019). Do payments encourage children into riskier research? Findings from the MESSI study. Issue 23, Research to Practice Series. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Taplin, S., Chalmers, J., Brown, J., Moore, T., Graham, A., McArthur, M. (2022). How do Research Ethics Committee Members Respond to Hypothetical Studies with Children? Results from the MESSI Study. Journal on Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646221087530

Taplin, S., Chalmers, J., Hoban, B., McArthur, M., Moore, T. & Graham, A. (2019) Children in social research: Do higher payments encourage participation in riskier studies? Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. 14(2), 126-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/1556264619826796

Powell, M., Graham, A., McArthur, M., Moore, T., Chalmers, J., & Taplin, S. (2019) Children’s participation in research on sensitive topics: addressing concerns of decision-makers. Children’s Geographies. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2019.1639623

Powell, M., McArthur, M., Chalmers, J., Graham, A., Moore, T., Spriggs, M. & Taplin, S. (2018) Sensitive topics in social research involving children. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 21:6, 647-660. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2018.1462882

For more information about the project, contact Assoc Prof Stephanie Taplin

Investigators

Alex Cahill, Jacqui Stewart, Prof Daryl Higgins, Emeritus Professor Morag McArthur, Dr Bianca Hoban, Dr Chloe Gordon (ACU); Dr Debbie Scott (Monash/Turning Point)

Funding source

Australian Government Department of Social Services

Aim

The Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioned the ACU Institute of Child Protection Studies to develop and pilot a methodology to investigate service system responses for families where child protection concerns exist within the context of family violence. The Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (a statutory child protection service) participated in the research, providing data for the pilot.

The aim of the project was to understand the nature of services (particularly whether they were child-centred), the case management approach and the service system pathways for children and young people exposed to domestic family violence and who were also engaged with the child protection system.

The project had four stages:

• a literature review: assessing the intersection between child protection and family violence systems
• quantitative data analysis: examining data tables provided by the Queensland Department
• semi-structured qualitative interviews: were conducted with Child Safety Officers from the Queensland Department, and with practitioners from non-government agencies (or external service providers) in the South West child protection region of Queensland
• data synthesis: enabling reflections on the effectiveness of service responses, and provided insights into efficacy of the approach used to learn more about what happens to the children and families reported to child protection involving family violence concerns.

The study identified both the barriers and the enablers to effective case management. We then developed key actions to help practitioners work towards actions that enable positive outcomes and improve service provision.

Background

This project ran from 2017-2019. It was funded by DSS to support to key national agendas:

• One of the key objectives of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan) is to achieve an ‘increase in the access to, and responsiveness of, services for victims of domestic and family violence and sexual assault’ (National Outcome 4). The Third Action Plan (2016-19) of the National Plan further specifies that the capacity of specialist and mainstream service providers needs to be strengthened to better recognise and respond to the impacts of violence on children (National Priority Area 5, Action 5.3).
• One of the key objectives of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 (the National Framework) is to explore the risk factors for child abuse and neglect and the intersections of family and domestic violence services with related systems, such as mental health, housing and child protection. The Third Action Plan (2015-18) of the National Framework further specifies that barriers to information sharing across jurisdictions should be addressed in order to develop a best practice model of information exchange within and across government and non-government agencies where there are concerns about child wellbeing (Action 3.2).

Reports

Gordon, C., Higgins, D., McArthur, M., & Scott, D. (2018). Literature review conducted for Phase 1 report: Service system responses to the needs of children to keep them safe from violence. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Cahill, A., Stewart, J., & Higgins, D. (2019). Service system responses to the needs of children to keep them safe from violence. Melbourne: Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies.

Cahill, A., Higgins, D. & Kerr, S. (2020). System reform for children and young people in statutory child exposed to domestic and family violence, Research to Practice Series. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Family and Community Services, NSW Government

Aim:

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), in partnership with ICPS, was commissioned by FACS to undertake a process and outcome evaluation and an economic assessment of the Youth Hope Program (YHP). The primary aim of the YHP is to maximise the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and their families who are involved in (or who are at risk of being involved in) statutory child protection services. The program also aims to pilot innovative models of service delivery, which means that the services delivered in each of the program sites differ.

The process evaluation examined the extent to which the YHP has been implemented as planned (and if not why not), while the outcome evaluation assessed the overall effectiveness of the program. Specifically, the evaluation addressed the following research questions:

• Has the YHP been implemented as it was originally designed and as intended?
• How responsive were the services to clients from a range of diverse backgrounds?
• What have been the benefits and challenges associated with establishing multiple partnerships and strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders?
• To what extent is the YHP (including case coordination, life skills, therapeutic interventions, family support, referrals and crisis intervention) consistent with international best practice?
• How could the service delivery models be improved or modified to deliver better outcomes for CYP and their families?
• Were there any other positive, negative or unintended consequences for participating CYP and their families, program partner agencies and the community?
• To what extent have the intended outcomes for CYP and their families been achieved?

The economic assessment of the YHP:

• Determined the cost associated with implementing the YHP, both as it currently stands (ie operating in five sites) and if it was expanded into additional locations in NSW;
• Identified both tangible and intangible costs and savings for program participants, stakeholders, FACS and the wider community resulting from the YHP; and
• Determined the cost-effectiveness of the YHP (ie the costs associated with delivering the observed outcomes) and compared this with similar programs operating elsewhere.

Investigators:

Vicky Saunders, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Aim:

This project investigates the help-seeking behaviours, needs and potential service responses for a range of target groups who are concerned about potentially sexually harmful or sexually abusive behaviours. Specifically the research project aims to explore:

• The service needs and help-seeking behaviours of professionals, parents and community members concerned about the behaviour of an adult who is exhibiting potentially sexually harmful behaviour towards a child (including grooming, online behaviour and use of child pornography);
• The help-seeking needs and behaviours of professionals, parents and community members concerned about a child who is exhibiting, potentially sexual, harmful behaviour;
• The help-seeking needs and behaviours of individuals concerned that they may sexually harm or otherwise abuse a child;
• The functions and effectiveness of existing services tasked with responding to the needs of these target groups, including the knowledge, skills and abilities required of practitioners responding to target groups’ service needs.

Outputs:

Saunders, V., & McArthur, M. (2017). Help-seeking needs and gaps for preventing child sexual abuse. Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Sydney.

Investigators:

Emeritus Prof Morag McArthur, Steven Roche, Elise Woodman

Funding Source:

Internal funding

Aims:

This project aims to inform the further development of child centred practice that will assist children to participate in child protection practices in appropriate and meaningful ways. The research findings will inform the development of policy and practice strategies that will increase children's meaningful participation in child protection decision-making. The first stage of the research is to survey statutory child protection agency workers across all Australian state and territories. The second stage will be to interview statutory child protection workers. Ethics approval has been granted by the Australian Catholic University Human Research Committee.

Investigators:

Dr Tim Moore, Steven Roche, Karen Milward, Morag McArthur; in partnership with ACIL Allen Consulting

Funding Source:

Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

Aim:

The Targeted Care Packages is an initiative of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and forms part of reforms to better support building strong families and safe children in Victoria, and securing a sustainable out of home care system. The TCP is designed to enable individualised and flexible supports for home-based care not available within the current funding arrangements. It enables the child or young person’s transition from residential care into an alternative living arrangement, where their experience of care is more positive and their needs better met.

In 2016-17, the Department of Health and Human Services appointed ACIL Allen Consulting to evaluate the implementation and early achievements of Targeted Care Packages (TCP). ACIL Allen Consulting has partnered with the Institute of Child Protection Studies to conduct a discrete piece of work that considers children and young people’s perspectives on the program.

For more information about this project, contact Dr Tim Moore.

Investigators:

Dr Tim Moore, Rhys Thorpe, Renee Crowe

Funding Source:

Life Without Barriers

Aim:

Young people are often placed in residential care settings in an attempt to provide them with safe, stable, nurturing environments free from risks of harm; and where better health, education, well-being and social outcomes can be achieved. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that many young people’s needs are not adequately met within residential care settings and that improvement in a range of domains is required.

Life Without Barriers (LWB) is a large provider of residential services to young people in NSW (among other states). Alongside other strategies to improve quality service delivery and to ensure that services and supports are meeting the needs of young people, Life Without Barriers has commissioned ICPS to gather some baseline data that informs service improvement, but also allows the organisation to be able to assess its progress. Interviews with children and young people in LWB residential care units will be conducted in November and December 2016 with an interim report prepared in January 2017.

For more information about this project, contact Dr Tim Moore.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services, Australian Government

Aim:

As a member of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Expert Panel, ICPS has been commissioned to assist and support service providers as part of the Outcomes Measurement Project. This project aims to provide assistance to Families and Children (FaC) service providers to strengthen their capacity to develop and deliver outcomes measurements and reporting.

Selected services may receive a range of supports depending on their specific needs. Assistance may include:

• identifying suitable performance indicators for FaC activities;
• identifying service level outcomes that fit within the FaC Performance Framework for programmes;
• identifying and selecting appropriate tools/instruments to measure outcomes;
• developing suitable methods to measure the achievement of outcomes within the context of the particular service within its community;
• identifying and measuring how services contribute to the immediate, intermediate and long term outcomes for clients; and
• identifying and becoming proficient in the use of suitable data collection tools where required.

Support may be provided in a variety of ways including one-on-one or group training, onsite visits or workshops to develop and implement client assessment processes.

For more information about this project, contact Justin Barker.

Investigators:

Vicky Saunders, Prof Morag McArthur, Winangay Resources Inc., Australian Centre for Child Protection (University of South Australia)

Funding Source:

Sidney Myer Fund

Aim:

The aim of this research is to examine the effectiveness and implementation of kinship carer assessment tools developed by an Aboriginal community organisation. The research will explore:

• The outcomes for carers, children, organisations and communities using the Winangay Kinship Carers Assessment Tools, and how these compare to standard assessment methods
• The system, community, organisation, practitioner and family factors which help or hinder the faithful implementation of these tools in practice
• The impact of involving Aboriginal workers and community members in the kinship carer assessment process on outcomes and the cultural safety of the process
• The degree to which the assessment process recognises and addresses the strengths and needs of Aboriginal kinship carers
• Whether Winangay training meets the training needs of workers with regard to placing practice in the context of legislation, the application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, locating and assessing kinship carers, confidence and skill in carer assessment, and culturally appropriate ways of working with Aboriginal carers

ICPS is supporting the implementation of the research in the eastern states, and will undertake 20 semi-structured interviews with aboriginal kinship carers. ICPS will lead the analysis of qualitative data.

For more information, contact Morag McArthur.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Family and Community Services, NSW Government

Aim:

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), in partnership with ICPS, was commissioned by FACS to undertake a process and outcome evaluation and an economic assessment of the Youth Hope Program (YHP). The primary aim of the YHP is to maximise the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and their families who are involved in (or who are at risk of being involved in) statutory child protection services. The program also aims to pilot innovative models of service delivery, which means that the services delivered in each of the program sites differ.

The process evaluation examined the extent to which the YHP has been implemented as planned (and if not why not), while the outcome evaluation assessed the overall effectiveness of the program. Specifically, the evaluation addressed the following research questions:

• Has the YHP been implemented as it was originally designed and as intended?
• How responsive were the services to clients from a range of diverse backgrounds?
• What have been the benefits and challenges associated with establishing multiple partnerships and strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders?
• To what extent is the YHP (including case coordination, life skills, therapeutic interventions, family support, referrals and crisis intervention) consistent with international best practice?
• How could the service delivery models be improved or modified to deliver better outcomes for CYP and their families?
• Were there any other positive, negative or unintended consequences for participating CYP and their families, program partner agencies and the community?
• To what extent have the intended outcomes for CYP and their families been achieved?

The economic assessment of the YHP:

• Determined the cost associated with implementing the YHP, both as it currently stands (ie operating in five sites) and if it was expanded into additional locations in NSW;
• Identified both tangible and intangible costs and savings for program participants, stakeholders, FACS and the wider community resulting from the YHP; and
• Determined the cost-effectiveness of the YHP (ie the costs associated with delivering the observed outcomes) and compared this with similar programs operating elsewhere.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Dr Tim Moore, Steven Roche

Funding Source:

Melbourne City Mission

Aim:

Consistent with recent conceptualisations of homelessness, the family-level ‘causes’ of youth homelessness are diverse and complex, and are interwoven with both individual and social/cultural factors. In response, this project aimed to explore the contemporary social and cultural factors that contribute to family conflict and breakdown that may lead to young people experiencing homelessness, as well as the risk and protective factors for family conflict and breakdown.

The research findings detailed the contemporary pressures and causes that contribute to family conflict that can lead to homelessness, provided an understanding of the contemporary social and cultural context of family conflict and homelessness for young people, and informed policy and practice and contribute to the development of measures to positively impact the lives of young people.

For more information about the program, contact Steven Roche.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Tim Moore, in partnership with Griffith University and the Queensland University of Technology

Funding Source:

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Aim:

This research project explored what children and young people experience and think about safety in institutional contexts. Specifically, the study explored how children conceptualise and perceive the extent to which they are safe in institutions; their views on what gives rise to these perceptions; what they consider is already being done to respond to unsafe situations in institutions; and what else they think might lead to children being and feeling more safe.

This study was designed to inform the Royal Commission's work in assessing the effectiveness of current prevention programs by directly hearing children and young people's views and knowledge of safety issues, as well as how they think these issues can and should be addressed.

For more information about this project, contact Dr Tim Moore.

Outputs:

Research report

Moore, T., McArthur., M., Heerde, J., Roche, S., & O'Leary, P. (2016). Our safety counts: Children and young people's perceptions of safety and institutional responses to their safety concerns. Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Noble-Carr, D., & Harcourt, D. (2015). Taking us seriously: children and young people talk about safety and institutional responses to their safety concerns. Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Click here to download the report summary for kids.

Associated publications

Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2017). 'You Feel It in Your Body': How Australian children and young people think about and experience feeling and being safe. Children & Society, 31(3), 206-218.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Roche, S., Heerde, J., & Barry, E. (2016).Our Safety Counts: Key findings from the Australian Survey of Kids and Young People - Perceptions of interpersonal safety and characteristics of safe institutions. Research to Practice Series: Issue 13. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Roche, S., Heerde, J., & Barry, E. (2016). Our Safety Counts: Key findings from the Australian Survey of Kids and Young People - help-seeking and institutional responses to safety concerns. Research to Practice Series: Issue 14. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Noble-Carr, D., & Barry, E. (2016). Children's views about safety in institutions. Research to Practice Series: Issue 12. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2015). Being Safe and Feeling Safe: Children's Conceptualisations of Interpersonal Safety. Research to Practice Series, Issue 11. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2015, 18 August). What do children and young people have to say about safety in institutions? [Opinion Article]. The Conversation.
Republished on Parenthub on 8 September 2015.

Presentations

ICPS. (2016).YouTube animation presenting findings of Children's Safety Studies. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2015, 25 August). Being safe, feeling safe: Children's perceptions and experiences of safety in institutions. LSIA Dialogue Series, Melbourne: Learning Sciences Institute Australia, ACU. [Presentation recording]

Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2015, 17 August). Launch of the Kids' Safety Report - Taking Us Seriously: Children and young people talk about safety and institutional responses to their safety concerns. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU. [Prezi slides, no audio]

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Dr Tim Moore, Steven Roche

Funding Source:

Melbourne City Mission

Aim:

Consistent with recent conceptualisations of homelessness, the family-level ‘causes’ of youth homelessness are diverse and complex, and are interwoven with both individual and social/cultural factors. In response, this project aimed to explore the contemporary social and cultural factors that contribute to family conflict and breakdown that may lead to young people experiencing homelessness, as well as the risk and protective factors for family conflict and breakdown.

The research findings detailed the contemporary pressures and causes that contribute to family conflict that can lead to homelessness, provided an understanding of the contemporary social and cultural context of family conflict and homelessness for young people, and informed policy and practice and contribute to the development of measures to positively impact the lives of young people.

For more information about the program, contact Steven Roche.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson, Giovanna Richmond

Funding Source:

Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation, to the Australian Foster Care Association

Aim:

This three-year project seeks to help address the difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled foster carers by identifying the most effective strategies to attract, support and retain successful foster caring families. Drawing on existing evidence and the experiences of those working in this critical area, this study will develop new knowledge about best practice for direct dissemination and the creation of effective resources for government and non-government foster care providers and carers. These new sources and evidence-based tools will help support the viability of the foster care system, provide more sustainable care options, and consequently improve outcomes for children and young people in care.

Outputs:

Thomson, L., Watt, E., & McArthur, M. (2016). Literature review: Foster carer attraction, recruitment, support and retention. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Richmond, G., & McArthur, M. (2017). Foster and kinship carer recruitment and retention: Encouraging and sustaining quality care to improve outcomes for children in care Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Associated publications

Thomson, L., McArthur, M., Barry, E. (2017). Recruiting and Retaining Foster Carers. Research to Practice Series, Issue 16. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Prof Daryl Higgins

Dr Debbie Scott (Monash University, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre)

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services (DSS), Australian Government

Aim:

The risk factors for child abuse and neglect, and the intersection of family and domestic violence services with related systems such as statutory child protection services, is a key objective in the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020. Additionally, the Victorian Government's 2015-16 Royal Commission into Family Violence noted that children are 'frequently marginalised' in current responses to family violence, and there is a need for stronger links between child protection, specialist family violence services, and other service providers which respond to family violence.

DSS commissioned this study to:

• Develop a profile of the children and families reported to child protection with issues of domestic and family violence;
• Identify and map service responses, including the use of safety plans and other actions taken, such as referrals; and,
• Identify implications for how community-based and government services can better recognise and respond to violence.

Part 1 of the study will include a quantitative analysis of child protection files, in which researchers will analyse and compare characteristics between families where family violence has been identified; and those where no family violence has been identified, in two jurisdictions. Part 2 will include qualitative interviews with child protection practitioners and non-government agency workers, to understand the nature of interventions and decision-making, and implications for safety and well-being of both mothers and children.

This project aims to be completed by June 2018.

For more information about this project, contact Morag McArthur.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Tim Moore, and Debbie Noble-Carr

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services

Aim:

This 6 month project aimed to assess the extent and nature of children’s qualitative evidence that is available to inform social policy and practice in the domain of family and domestic violence. This project carried out a meta–analysis of the available evidence to explore and synthesise knowledge from qualitative investigations of children’s views and experiences of family and domestic violence. Due to overlapping domains; child protection, family support, family homelessness, family relationships (separation and divorce) research were included.

The questions framing the project included: what do children say about their experience of family violence and what do say they need from the service system? The project also identified the current research gaps in what we know children think about these issues. Using QRQC as a systematic method for assessing quality, key findings were synthesised both at a descriptive level (what do children commonly say) and at an interpretive level (what do the findings mean for policy and services). This analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the possible evidence available to policy makers.

For more information about this project contact Prof Morag McArthur.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Debbie Noble-Carr, Prof Daryl Higgins, Dr Tim Moore, Sam Morley

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services (DSS), Australian Government

Aim:

This scoping study aims to identify strategies for talking to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experiencing family and domestic violence. There is limited research exploring how children generally, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children specifically, experience domestic and family violence, how they perceive this, and what their support needs are.

In 2017, ICPS completed a meta-synthesis of the qualitative studies with children about domestic and family violence, which identified a gap in understanding the unique issues and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experiencing violence. In response, DSS commissioned ICPS to undertake this further study. The study will:

• Identify the barriers and enablers to directly engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children about their experiences of family and domestic violence;
• Identify what is needed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to feel safe about researchers exploring their experiences of family and domestic violence; and,
• Identify and/or develop resources and guidance for researchers, service providers and parents to improve their confidence to talk to children about their experiences of violence.

The study will include a literature review about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with violence and best practice for conducting research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; conduct interviews with key stakeholders, such as elders and community members, service providers and peak bodies, ethics committee members; and parents and young adults aged 18-25 who have experienced domestic and family violence.

For more information about this project, contact Debbie Noble-Carr.

Publication

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Vicky Saunders and Steven Roche, in partnership with the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services

Aim:

This research aimed to provide in-depth and contextualised data about how services may better support refugee parents to care for their children, in an attempt to reduce the numbers of children of refugee parents entering the statutory care and protection system. It sought to better understand the social resources and connections required by refugee parents and their children to support positive parenting skills and family relationships.

This study developed new knowledge about refugee children and young people's views on social connectedness and how this influences their safety and well-being, and explored how services can create more responsive and integrated practices that will lead to better outcomes for children and young people living in families from a refugee background.

For more information about this project, contact Morag McArthur.

Outputs:

Research Report

Saunders, V., Roche, S., McArthur, M., Arney, F., & Ziaian, T. (2015). Refugee Communities Intercultural Dialogue: Building Relationships, Building Communities. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated Publications

Saunders, V., McArthur, M., Roche, S., & Barry, E. (2016). Supporting refugee families in Australia. Research to Practice Series: Issue 15. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Saunders, V., Roche, S., McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2017). Barriers to formal and informal supports for refugee families in Australia. Child Family Community Australia, 6 April.

Saunders, V., Roche, S., McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2017). Improving formal service responses for refugee families in Australia. Child Family Community Australia, 12 April.

Investigators:

Dr Tim Moore, Prof Morag McArthur, Steven Roche, Dr Jodi Death, Prof Clare Tilbury

Funding Source:

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Aim:

This study builds on the Children’s Safety Study and explored the experiences of young people and their safety in residential care. It aimed to understand what young people believe institutions are doing to identify, prevent and respond to sexual abuse and problematic sexual behaviours among young people. The study included interviews with young people, and a workshop with young people and key stakeholders to develop a youth-centred response to sexual abuse. 

For more information about this project, contact Dr Tim Moore.

Outputs:

Research Report

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Roche, S., Death, J., & Tilbury, C. (2016). Safe and sound: Exploring the safety of young people in residential care. Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Sydney.

Associated Publications

Moore, T., McArthur, M., Death, J., Tilbury, C., & Roche, S. (2017). Young people's views on safety and preventing abuse and harm in residential care: "It's got to be better than home". Children and Youth Services Review.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., & Roche, S. (2017). Safe and Sound: The safety concerns of young people in residential care. Issue 17, Research to Practice Series. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., & Roche, S. (2017). Safe and Sound: Creating safe residential care services for children and young people. Issue 18, Research to Practice Series. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University.

Presentations

ICPS. (2017). YouTube animation on young people's safety in residential care. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Fiona Arney (Australian Centre for Child Protection), Dr Tim Moore, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

The Healing Foundation

Aims:

The Healing Foundation is an independent Indigenous organisation engaging communities to develop healing amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It commissioned three Aboriginal controlled agencies in Kununurra, Darwin and Brisbane to develop programs that help communities (particularly children, young people and families) to deal with intergenerational trauma. In partnership with the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP), ICPS evaluated these initiatives.

This evaluation was the first large-scale study across multiple jurisdictions to provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of diverse approaches to addressing intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

For more information, contact Dr Tim Moore.

Investigators:

Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin, Dr Giovanna Richmond, Professor Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Australian National Council on Drugs

Aim:

This report describes policies and practices across Australia, reviews the literature on the identification of maternal alcohol and other drug use, and identifies 'best practice' in the management of substance-using pregnant women. The outcomes of this project will provide valuable findings to inform policy and practice in relation to maternal alcohol and other drug use nationally.

For more information about this project, contact Associate Professor Stephanie Taplin.

Publications:

Taplin, S., Richmond, G., McArthur, M. (2015). Identifying alcohol and other drug use during pregnancy: Outcomes for women, their partners and their children (PDF, 645KB). Canberra: Australian National Council on Drugs.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Tim Moore, and Debbie Noble-Carr

Funding Source:

Department of Social Services

Aim:

This 6 month project aimed to assess the extent and nature of children’s qualitative evidence that is available to inform social policy and practice in the domain of family and domestic violence. This project carried out a meta–analysis of the available evidence to explore and synthesise knowledge from qualitative investigations of children’s views and experiences of family and domestic violence. Due to overlapping domains; child protection, family support, family homelessness, family relationships (separation and divorce) research were included.

The questions framing the project included: what do children say about their experience of family violence and what do say they need from the service system? The project also identified the current research gaps in what we know children think about these issues. Using QRQC as a systematic method for assessing quality, key findings were synthesised both at a descriptive level (what do children commonly say) and at an interpretive level (what do the findings mean for policy and services). This analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the possible evidence available to policy makers.

For more information about this project contact Prof Morag McArthur.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Community Services Directorate, ACT Government

Aims:

In 2013, the Community Services Directorate commissioned ICPS to develop an evaluation plan for the ACT Child, Youth and Family Services Program (CYFSP). The CYFSP commenced in 2012 and provides an integrated and collaborative service system for vulnerable children, young people and families in the ACT. The Evaluation Plan was submitted in July 2013.

In 2014 the Community Services further commissioned ICPS to develop and conduct a process evaluation to assess the extent to which the CYFSP has been successfully implemented as intended and identify key issues and lessons learnt to aid future program implementation. This project assessed the feasibility of an outcome evaluation that would focus on the effectiveness of the CYFSP, asking the question: how much has the CYFSP achieved its desired outcomes?

A report was submitted to the Community Services Directorate in late 2014.

This scoping study was conducted by two social work students, Jayna Farnham and Christine Dean, under the supervision of researchers from ICPS, Debbie Noble-Carr and Steve Roche.

The study aimed to deepen our understanding of the experiences and impacts of fostering on biological children of foster carers, by answering the following research questions:

1. What are the needs and experiences of the biological children of foster carers within the ACT?
2. What are the policy and practice implications of these children's needs and experiences for the ACT foster care sector?

Although the study was limited in time and scope, the study included three distinct research phases. Phase one included a systematic and targeted literature review on the issue of biological children of foster carers. Phase two allowed for consultations with key stakeholders to identify the current policy and practice responses for biological children of foster carers in the ACT and Australia. Phase three involved the research team conducting a series of focus groups with foster carers and their biological children (aged 8-18 years) in the ACT.

Outputs:

Research Monograph

Noble-Carr, D., Farnham, J., & Dean, C. (2014). Needs and Experiences of Biological Children of Foster Carers: A Scoping Study. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated Publications

Roche, S., & Noble-Carr, D. (2017). Agency and its Constraints among Biological Children of Foster Carers. Australian Social Work, 70(1), 66-77.

Noble-Carr, D., Farnham, J., Dean, C., & Barry, E. (2015). Needs and Experiences of Biological Children of Foster Carers. Research to Practice Series, Issue 8, January. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Vicky Saunders

Funding Source:

ACT Health Directorate, and SHINE for Kids

Aim:

This qualitative needs analysis aimed to deepen the understanding of children's needs by exploring their experiences of parental incarceration. Commissioned by SHINE for Kids, it identified appropriate individual, family and community responses, informed by children, their caregivers, and other key groups; in the context of multiple system involvement (e.g. child protection, criminal justice, health, education, family support).

This needs analysis provided new insights into how service systems might work more effectively and responsively together to reduce future involvement in welfare, health and criminal justice systems, improve children's well-being and increase their participation in society. Current research informs us that children whose parents are imprisoned are likely to be affected by higher levels of disadvantage than their peers; for example they are more likely to experience multiple and complex health, social and welfare problems including poverty, family violence, substance abuse and mental health issues.

For more information about this project, contact Vicky Saunders

Outputs:

Research monograph

Saunders, V., & McArthur, M. (2013). Children of Prisoners: Exploring the needs of children and young people who have a parent incarcerated in the ACT. Canberra: SHINE for Kids.

Associated publications

Saunders, V. (2017). Children of prisoners - children's decision-making about contact. Child & Family Social Work, 22(S2), 63-72.

Flynn, C., & Saunders, V. (2015). Research with Children of Prisoners: Methodological Considerations for Bringing Youth in from the Margins. In S. Bastien & H. B. Holmarsdottir (Eds.), Youth 'At the Margins': Critical Perspectives and Experiences of Engaging Youth in Research Worldwide. Volume 4. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Saunders, V., McArthur, M,. & Moore, T. (2015). Not Seen and Not Heard: Ethical Considerations of Research with Children of Prisoners. Children of Prisoners, Special Issue of Law in Context, 32, 108 – 125. 

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2013, 4 December). Seminar recording: Forum: Children of prisoners in the ACT [Rich Media Playback]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU. 

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2013, 3 December). Forum: Children of prisoners in the ACT [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Institute of Child Protection Studies, SHINE for Kids. (2013, 31 October). Supporting children of prisoners in the ACT: Program and report launch [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2013, 31 July). Children of Prisoners: An often invisible group [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Saunders, V., & Barry, E. (2013). Children with Parents in Prison. Research to Practice Series, Issue 4, December. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Debbie Noble-Carr, Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

ACU Institute for Catholic Identity and Mission

Aim:

This qualitative study explored the role and potency that concepts such as identity, and a search for meaning, have in the lives of vulnerable young people. Literature has found that having a positive view of self, the world and the future is important in the lives of vulnerable young people. However, much of this research is international (predominately the UK and USA), and little is actually known about how the current service system in Australia does, or should, support vulnerable young people in a search for positive identity and meaning.

During 2012, 24 interviews were completed with vulnerable young people in the ACT aged between 15 and 25 years. Through these interviews, the study elicited an in-depth narrative of the young people's life experiences, with particular reference to how they view themselves and make sense of their world and their place within it. The implications this has for how the service sector provides support to vulnerable young people was also explored.

For more information about this project, contact Debbie Noble-Carr or Dr Justin Barker.

Outputs:

Research monograph

Noble-Carr, D., Barker, J., & McArthur, M. (2013). Me, Myself and I: Identity and Meaning for Vulnerable Young People. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications

Noble-Carr, D., & Woodman, E. (2017). Considering identity and meaning constructions for vulnerable young people. Journal of Adolescent Research.

Institute of Child Protection Studies. (2013, 16 April). Research Report Launch: Me, Myself and I - Identity and meaning for vulnerable young people [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Noble-Carr, D. (2013, 16 April). Seminar and Launch: Identity and Meaning for vulnerable young people [rich media playback]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Noble-Carr, D., & Barry, E. (2013). Identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people. Research to Practice Series, Issue 2, June. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Lorraine Thomson, Prof Morag McArthur, Erin Barry

Funding Source:

Community Services Directorate, ACT Government

Aims:

The ACT Child, Youth and Family Services Program (the CYFSP), funded by the ACT Community Services Directorate, provides an integrated and collaborative service system for vulnerable children, young people and families in the ACT. The CYFSP commenced in 2012, with 28 non-government organisations providing a range of services in the community.

ICPS developed a detailed Evaluation Plan for the CYFSP, including an evaluation framework, evaluation approach, and a set of tools for data collection during the life of the evaluation.

For more information, contact Morag McArthur.

Outputs:

Thomson, L., McArthur, M. (2013). Detailed Evaluation Plan: Child, Youth and Family Services Program. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Prof Morag McArthur

Funding Source:

Hanover Welfare Services and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

This project aimed to document, analyse and synthesise the national and international academic and community services literature on effective programs, service models and practices with children (12 years and under) experiencing homelessness and family violence.

It identified the key elements, mechanisms and practice tools/resources employed in effective service models and practices with these children and their care-givers; and identified the similarities and differences between services provided through the homelessness sector and those provided through family violence services for infants, preschool and primary school aged cohorts. It also referenced key approaches (e.g. family sensitive practice) and service models in the child protection and family support services programs.

For more information about this project, contact Dr Justin Barker.

Outputs:

Barker, J., Kolar, V., Mallett, S., & McArthur, M. (2013). What works for children experiencing homelessness and/or family/domestic violence? Part 1: Literature Synthesis. Melbourne: Hanover Welfare Services.

Kolar, V., Barker, J., Mallett, S., McArthur, M., & Nette, A. (2013). What works for children experiencing homelessness and/or family/domestic violence? An Abridged Report. Melbourne: Hanover Welfare Services.

Investigators:

Justin Barker, Peter Humphries, Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

This evaluation of 'Reconnect' assessed the appropriateness and effectiveness of responses and intervention strategies for working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It examined the extent to which Reconnect services implemented early intervention strategies that directly helped them to achieve their intended objectives. The findings from the evaluation will inform the future direction of Reconnect.

The project was guided by the proposed key evaluation questions outlined by FaHCSIA:

• Which early intervention strategies are most effective for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness?
• Which of these identified strategies are practically applied by Reconnect service providers?
• Which, if any, of these strategies are more or less effective for specific demographics targeted by the Reconnect Program?

Using a mixed-methods approach, the evaluation incorporated both qualitative and quantitative methods. It drew upon existing data and reviews and collected new data for analysis. An international literature review was produced that outlines available evidence addressing strategies for working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Outputs:

Research monographs

Barker, J., Humphries, P., McArthur, M., & Thomson, L. (2012). Literature Review: Effective interventions for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Barker, J., Humphries, P., McArthur, M., & Thomson, L. (2012). Reconnect: Working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Association publications

Barry, E., & Barker, J. (2013). Interventions and practice principles for supporting young people who are homeless. Research to Practice Series, Issue 1, March. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

This project was a national analysis of workforce trends and approaches that affect Australia's statutory child protection workforce. It aimed to identify:

• The national trends that impact upon recruitment and retention in the statutory child protection workforce;
• Successful strategies that are, or will be employed by state and territory governments to recruit, retain and support the statutory child protection workforce; and,
• Identify priorities at jurisdictional and national levels that could be considered to further develop capacity and expertise of the statutory child protection workforce.

The analysis drew upon the research evidence and current knowledge and strategies used by state and territory child protection services. FaHCSIA contracted the Institute to undertake this work under the 'National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children', of which 'Building Capacity and Expertise' is a National Priority.

For more information about the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children, click here.

Outputs

McArthur, M., & Thomson, L. (2012). National Analysis of Workforce Trends in Statutory Child Protection. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Gail Winkworth, Michael White

Aim:

Adjunct Professor Gail Winkworth and colleague Michael White have developed an evidence based tool to guide organisations and networks in an action research process, to improve the way they work together and plan for the future. The Rubric assists different types of networks, including:

• Newly formed networks to plan the development of their partnerships;
• Established networks to monitor how their partnerships are working and what areas need attention;
• Networks experiencing difficulties to identify areas of conflict and agreement so that they can move forward;
• All networks to agree on shared goals and outcome; and,
• Organisational units within organisations which need to work more collaboratively with each other.

Focusing on outcomes for clients, the Rubric was developed over multiple research projects. It connects key types of partnerships with 18 key factors found to underpin successful collaboration.

These factors are described in a developmental way so that services can monitor how their collaboration is progressing over time.

Outputs

Winkworth, G., & White, M. (2012). A rubric for building effective collaboration. Canberra.

Investigators:

Prof Peter Camilleri (School of Social Work), Prof Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson

Funding Source:

Australian Research Council Discovery Grant

Aim:

This project was funded by an ARC Discovery Grant, with the ACT study one of nine parallel studies, one covering each state and territory and the ninth, based on the eight others, focusing on Australia as a whole.

The aim of the study was to address the following research questions:

• What is the contemporary status of, and current challenges faced by, Australia's Children's Courts in relation to both their child welfare and criminal jurisdictions from the perspective of its judicial officers and other key stakeholders?
• What issues and challenges do judicial officers and other key stakeholders believe the Children's Court will face over the next decade?
• What are the judicial officers' and other key stakeholders' assessments of, and degree of support for, child welfare and juvenile justice jurisdiction reforms that have recently been canvassed in Australia and overseas?

Outputs:

Research monograph:

Camilleri, P., McArthur, M., & Thomson, L. (2011). ARC Discovery Grant Project: Challenges, possibilities and future directions: A national assessment of Australia's Children's Courts. ACT Report. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications:

Thomson, L., McArthur, M., & Camilleri, P. (2017). Is it 'fair'? Representation of children, young people and parents in an adversarial court system. Child and Family Social Work, 22(S2), 23-32.

Camilleri, P., Thomson, L., & McArthur, M. (2013). Needs or deeds? Child protection and youth justice in the Australian Capital Territory. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 35(2), 193-206.

Camilleri, P., Thomson, L., & McArthur, M. (2013). The Children's Court in the Australian Capital Territory. In R. Sheehan & A. Borowski (Eds.), Australia's Children's Courts Today and Tomorrow, 7, 9-26: Springer Netherlands. 

Investigators:

Lorraine Thomson, Prof Morag McArthur, Bronwyn Thomson

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

This Project looked at the effects on young people and their parents of the Australian Government's changes to Family Tax Benefit A (FTB A). The changes to FTB A mean that in order for parents to continue to receive FTB A for young people aged 16 - 20, those young people need to be in education or training to achieve Year 12 or equivalent, or have completed Year 12 or equivalent.

The study aimed to assist in building an appreciation of how young people and their parents understand and respond to the condition of participation in education in order to receive FTB A and of the impact that it will have on their lives. It also aimed to: uncover any unintended consequences of the policy changes; consider whether any measures need to be put in to place to mitigate these effects; and identify what young people see as enablers and barriers to education and training.

Outputs:

Thomson, L., McArthur, M., & Thomson, B. (2012). Supporting young people in education: Impact of changes to FTB A on young people and their families. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Stella Conroy, Fran Wilson

Funding Source:

Australian Research Council, for the Regulatory Institutions Network

Aim:

This project was a national study that aimed to explore the personal, professional and organisational values of child protection workers and team leaders and the relationship this has to retention and resilience of professionals working in this sector.

Outputs:

McArthur, M., Conroy, S., & Wilson, F. (2011). How Relevant is the Role of Values in Child Protection Practice? A national survey of Statutory Child Protection Staff 2009. Occasional Paper. Canberra: Regulatory Institutions Network, ANU.

Investigators:

Dr Justin Barker, Violet Kolar, Dr Shelley Mallett, Prof Morag McArthur, Vicky Saunders

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

The aim of this mixed method study was to explore the experiences of homeless fathers, with or without an active parenting role.

This research project was commissioned by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. It identifies the social, emotional and material consequences of the homeless experience for fathers, and their relationship with their children; and examines how their identity and role as fathers impacts on their lives in general and their experience of homelessness.

The report also examines how homelessness services currently support single fathers, and identifies policy and service delivery changes that could result in improved outcomes for this largely invisible population.

This research was done in partnership with Hanover Welfare Services and Melbourne City Mission, and addresses the National Homelessness Research Agenda 2009-2013 priority 'to inform and improve the service system and practice, including evaluation'. It fills a gap in our understanding by providing both qualitative and quantitative evidence about how best to support fathers who are homeless particularly around their parenting.

Outputs:

Research monograph:

Barker, J., Kolar, V., Mallett, S., McArthur, M., Saunders, V. (2011). More Than Just Me: Supporting Fathers who are Homeless. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications:

Barker, J., & Morrison, T. (2014). Supporting fathers who are homeless. Research to Practice Series, Issue 5, March. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Institute of Child Protection Studies; Hanover Welfare Services. (2012, 3 September). More than just me: Supporting fathers who are homeless [Media Release]. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Vicky Saunders, Bronwyn Thomson

Funding Source:

ACU Faculty Linkage Grant, and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

The aim of this research was to scope the boundaries and possible methodologies of future research into refugee children and their families' experience of settling into Australian communities.

One of the major challenges facing the world today is protecting refugees who have been forced to leave their homes for fear of death or persecution due to either armed conflict or human rights abuses. This project sought to identify critical areas of vulnerability and resilience during this transition and the formal and informal processes that can transform risk trajectories into adaptive pathways. This was achieved by exploring refugee families' and children's lived experiences and by analysing how they were constructed and responded to as refugees.

Outputs:

Research monograph

Saunders, V., McArthur, M., Moore, T., Inglis, A., & Golic, V. (2012). Getting it right: how best to engage refugee children and their parents in research about their Resettlement in Australia. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications:

Saunders, V., & McArthur, M. (2013). Getting it right: Research with refugee background children. In K. De Gioia & P. Whiteman (Eds), Immigrant and Refugee Families (pp. 23-40). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Lorraine Thomson, Merrilyn Woodward, Dr Justin Barker, Megan Layton, Dr Gail Winkworth

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and the Attorney-General's Department

Aim:

The evaluation of the Supporting Children after Separation Program (SCASP) and Post-Separation Cooperative Parenting service (PSCP) aimed to establish the appropriateness and effectiveness of service models and the extent to which they achieve their intended objectives. It also assessed the extent to which the programs gave priority to at-risk, vulnerable and disadvantaged families and how they generally increased family access to services through more collaborative service arrangements.

The evaluation incorporated existing data and reviews but moved beyond the reliance on adult focused data (ie: service providers and parents) to hear directly from young people themselves. It also used evidence based models of collaboration to analyse how the programs were working within relevant broader service delivery systems.

Outputs:

McArthur, M., Thomson, L., Woodward, M., Barker, J., Layton, M., & Winkworth, G. (2011). Evaluation of the Supporting Children After Separation Program and the Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Program. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Debbie Noble Carr

Funding Source:

Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians

Aim:

This book, produced by the ACCG, the network of Children's Commissioners and Guardians from each State and Territory in Australia, contains quotes and artwork created by children and young people across Australia. The quotes and artwork were selected from consultation and community engagement activities undertaken by the nine Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians.

Outputs:

Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians & Noble-Carr, D. (2011). What Australian kids say about their world. Australian Children's Commissioners and Guardians.

Investigators:

Dr Gail Winkworth, Kate Butler

Funding Source:

Australian Government - Protecting Australia's Children Framework

Aim:

This project was funded by the Australian Government under the Protecting Australia's Children Framework to assist vulnerable families earlier by linking them with services and supports, thereby preventing where possible their involvement, with statutory Child Protection.

Over eight months weekly intake meetings were held at which ACT Housing and ACT Care and Protection Services referred families to specific non-government agencies for support and assistance. ICPS supported the project using an action research approach to assess how the partnership was going and to identify specific issues that required further work

Outputs:

Winkworth, G., & Butler, K. (2009). A report on the progress of 'Protecting Australia's Children' Panel - a project to increase collaboration between ACT Housing, ACT Child Protection Services and ACT Community Service Providers. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Prof Morag McArthur, Vicky Saunders, Dr Tim Moore

Funding Source:

ACT Government Carer Recognition Grant, for Carers ACT

Aim:

Carers ACT commissioned ICPS to assist in completing their research project 'Exploring the needs and supports of young adult carers living in the ACT'. The purpose of this project was to develop an enhanced understanding of the needs of young adults (aged 18-25 years) living in the ACT who are caring for a family member or friend. This understanding will be used to inform the development and improvement of support services in order to mitigate impacts on physical and mental health often caused by the demands of an unsupported caring role.

Outputs:

Saunders, V., & Moore, T. (2010). Exploring the needs and supports of young adult carers living in the ACT. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Kate Butler, Prof Morag McArthur, Dr Gail Winkworth, Bronwyn Thomson, Renee Crowe

Funding Source:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Aim:

This qualitative project aimed to explore how becoming a mother affected the lives of young women and their families. As the social context for both young people and motherhood changed, there was a clear need to identify the experiences and needs of young mothers (aged under 25 years at the birth of their first child).

This project also sought to find out about the types of support young mothers received, from both family and friends and from formal services that designed to assist them, and aimed to find out what made it hard for young mothers to use services and how this could be improved.

Outputs:

Research monograph

Butler, K., McArthur, M., Winkworth, G., Thomson, B., & Crowe, R. (2010). Experiences and Aspirations of Younger Mothers. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications

McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2013). Younger Mothers: Stigma and Support. Research to Practice Series, Issue 3, September. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

McArthur, M., & Barry, E. (2012, 17 October). Taking the big stick to single parents is not the answer [Opinion Article]. The Conversation.

McArthur, M. & Winkworth, G. (2013). The hopes and dreams of Australian young mothers in receipt of income support. Communities, Children and Families Australia, 7(1), 47-62.

Investigators:

Urbis Social Policy Team: Prof Morag McArthur, Kate Butler, Claire Grealy, Karen Olver

Funding Source:

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria

Aim:

The Supported Playgroups and Parent Groups Initiative operates across a number of communities in Victoria for vulnerable children and their families. In partnership with Urbis consulting this longitudinal research project assessed whether this model of supported playgroups delivered benefits for families and influenced the uptake of other early childhood services.

Outputs:

McArthur, M., Butler, K., Grealy, C., & Olver, K. (2010). Supported Playgroups and Parent Groups (SPPI) Outcomes Evaluation. Urbis Social Policy Team. Victoria: Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. 

Investigators:

Kate Butler, Prof Morag McArthur, Michael White, Dr Gail Winkworth

Funding Source:

ACT Education and Training Directorate

Aim:

The provision of education hubs in several communities in the ACT that aim to provide integrated family support services, child care, health and other community based services represents a significant shift in how early childhood services are delivered. This project developed an evaluation model, to contribute to ensuring that common evaluation processes were used across the participating early childhood schools.

Outputs:

Butler, K., White, M., Winkworth, G., & McArthur, M. (2010). Evaluation Framework: ACT Early Childhood Schools Initiative. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Investigators:

Lorraine Thomson, Prof Morag McArthur, Kate Butler, Bronwyn Thomson

Funding Source:

ACT Community Services Directorate

Aim:

The Integrated Family Support Project was established as a pilot project from 2008 to 2010 to develop a model for collaboration between government and non-government agencies and families, with the aim of providing sustained, integrated services to families at risk. The project aimed to engage with families from a strengths perspective early in the life of the child and the life of the problem, before the problems necessitated court intervention.

Outputs:

Research monograph

Thomson, L., McArthur, M., Butler, K., & Thomson, B. (2010). Integrated Family Support Project Outcome Evaluation. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Associated publications

McArthur, M., & Thomson, L. (2011). Families' views on a coordinated family support service. Family Matters, 89.