FRSA Webinar: Family Led Decision Making driving child protection reform in South Australia

Описание: FRSA are showcasing presentations from the 2024 National Conference delivered by or in partnership with First Nations peoples, in this webinar series, which will be delivered throughout August-November.

In this fourth webinar Megan Waters from Relationships Australia South Australia will be presenting their Conference presentation titled, Family Led Decision Making driving child protection reform in South Australia.

Abstract:
The South Australian Child Protection system is undergoing a major reform following the alarming rates of children, particularly Aboriginal children, entering State care. We are further compelled by the devastating findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study to urgently consider the way we think about supporting children and their families. The current paradigm of supporting children at greatest risk of maltreatment has created a structure that attaches children to a system, rather than strengthening the attachment system around the child. The call to action in reforming the state child protection system has seen incredible innovations, partnership efforts and courage from both Government and Non-Government bodies alike that has national significance.

Relationships Australia (SA) would like to present our outcomes following the implementation of attachment-based tools, together with Restorative Practice and Family-Led Decision Making (FLDM) in our child protection programs – Intensive Family Support services and Family Group Conferencing. We’ll present our findings and data that highlight promising trends towards keeping children safe and well with their families.

The presentation will primarily focus on:

Transformative power of Aboriginal Leadership in mainstream child protection practices; demonstrating how culture is protective not just for families, but also for the systems around them.
The application and use of evidence-based attachment tools to orient practitioners to being safety organised over risk aversion, and tailor child protection case management to the needs of parent-child dyad and increase caregiving sensitivity.
The implementation of Family -Led Decision Making by way of Family Group Conferencing with high fidelity in statutory child protection to create sustained change.
Key learnings will include: sharing challenges and successes in the implementation journey, key strategies to create sustained space for Aboriginal Leadership in mainstream child protection and stories of caregivers at risk of child removal who are making transformative changes in their parenting. We hope this presentation will serve to connect and strengthen a national movement towards children and families leading radical system reform.