Child Protection Storyboard is a national advocacy project working to monitor the implementation of specific commitments made under the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020.

In April 2009, the Council of Australian Governments endorsed the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children and committed to a range of actions. This newsletter specifically examines the progress so far towards action 4.4A: Develop and introduce ambitious National Standards for Out-of-home Care.

In order to track progress against this action Child Protection Storyboard sought responses, to a series of questions, from Governments across Australia (click here for sample letter). These questions were framed around the National Standards for Out-of-home Care consultation process (Stage One) and data collection. So far, all governments written to have responded, except for the Northern Territory Government, which is undergoing a major public inquiry into its Child Protection Service.

A Working Document that outlines the Draft National Standards for Out-of-home Care was publically released (for Stage Two consultations) on 7 July 2010. On 22 July 2010 the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs provided Child Protection Storyboard with information about the Stage Two consultation process. The Commonwealth indicated that “peak organisations will be consulted on the Working Document through each state and territory’s stakeholder forums over the next month.” The Commonwealth also indicated that the organisations that provided written submissions during the Stage One consultation process have been provided to each state and territory. It is expected that each jurisdiction will also consult with relevant government agencies. Details such as which groups and agencies will participate, how they will be grouped and where consultations will be held have not yet been finalised.

For additional information regarding the Child Protection Storyboard project visit www.unitingcare.org.au/news/storyboard.html

What's The Story?

National Standards for Out of Home Care Consultation (Stage One).

Victoria informed Child Protection Storyboard that “national consultations to inform the development of the National Standards have been facilitated by KPMG and have been held in all capital cities and five regional locations throughout Australia.” South Australia indicated that “public notification in national and state newspapers invited submissions on the consultation paper directly to KPMG.”

South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian Governments all indicated they attended the KPMG facilitated consultation sessions. All states, except NSW, said they used these sessions as their primary point of feedback on the consultation paper. NSW Department of Human Services was the only State to indicate that it also made a written submission to the consultation paper and had senior departmental officers meet with the KMPG project team.

Queensland, New South Wales and South Australian Governments indicated that consultations took place in both their capital city and a regional centre in their State. Queensland’s Department of Communities said it “provided details of all funded OOHC organisations and peak bodies to assist KPMG in planning the consultation and to invite participants” and ”the consultation program outlined two sessions: one for government agencies and NGO peaks and funded OOHC providers and (2) a session for carers, parents, advocates and young people”. This pattern of consultation is consistent in both Qld and SA, however, SA have not indicated whether young people were included in the consultation. Queensland indicated that KPMG consultations also included birth parents and Aboriginal people. SA indicated that Aboriginal service providers and refugee services were also consulted.

It is not clear from the New South Wales, Victorian or Tasmanian Government’s responses who else participated in these states or how the participants were grouped.

NSW and Qld were the only states to provide information about the sorts of issues raised in the consultations, these included streamlined monitoring and accountability requirements, recognition of existing legislative and policy frameworks, recognition of the importance of children and young people’s participation in decision making, compliance with the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Placement Principles and improving outcomes for children and young people in areas such as health, education and transition to independence.

Data Collection & Measuring Improvements.

The Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Cmth) indicated that “government officials will develop measures for each standard, and develop a blueprint outlining governance for the National Standards including roles and responsibilities for measuring, monitoring and reporting under the standards”.

The Commonweath informed Child Protection Storyboard that “the aim of the National Standards is to drive continuous improvement in the out-of-home care system” and expects the blueprint to be completed by the end of 2010.

The relevant State Government Departments from NSW, SA and Qld indicated they already have significant data collection in place. SA and Qld indicated that they also use Create Foundation to gather information directly from young people.

Qld said data collection is being fed into the national standards via the Community and Disability Services Minsters’ Advisory Council. TAS indicated that “the evidence base being used to inform the National Standards on Out of Home Care is informed by the KPMG report”. SA indicated the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is working closely with the National Framework Implementation Working Group.

To measure whether the standards are improving children and young people’s welfare and wellbeing in OOHC, Qld said it “will continue to utilise its existing frameworks to determine the impacts” and work with the Qld Commission for Children and Young people and Child Guardian. Similarly NSW said “data collected as part of case file audits conducted by the NSW Children's Guardian should form the basis for monitoring and reporting on performance against the National Standards”. NSW also said it is starting a five year “large scale prospective longitudinal study of children and young people in out-of-home care”. SA indicated they would collaborate “with service providers and organisations such as Create and the Guardian for Children and Young People”. In addition, SA mentioned the “use of data to measure outcomes is likely to be discussed at the national level as the project progresses”.

Child Protection Storyboard has rewritten to the Department of Human Services (VIC) and Department of Health and Human Services (TAS) and requested more specific responses to the questions asked.

The initial stages of this project have revealed some limitations, particularly in regards to receiving responses from governments to the specific questions we asked. Storyboard is pleased to see that this action (4.4A: Develop and introduce ambitious National Standards for Out-of-home Care) is progressing according to the timeframes specified in the National Framework. Many recommendations from consultations and submissions have informed the development of the draft national standards from the original discussion paper.

As additional information comes to hand, further tracking against this action will be included.

Media Release on Draft Standards for OOHC
UnitingCare Australia have welcomed the Draft National Standards for Out-Of-Home Care and say an Independent National Children’s Commissioner is needed.

“The Commissioner must have the capacity to enforce the standards through regular reporting requirements, the power to conduct audits of government out of home care providers, and sufficient resources to establish an ambitious quality improvement program for agencies that cannot meet the standards.”

“It is equally important that the states and territories work with the Federal Government to support the implementation of the standards.” (click here to view full media release)

National Standards OOHC Working Group
The Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia's Children have six members on this working group, drawn from a range of stakeholder organisations, to ensure the views of the non-government sector are represented.

Outcomes from the Community and Disability Services Ministers Conference
Ministers agreed to jointly progress the following National Framework projects over the next six months: improving support for foster, kinship and grandparent carers, more effective transition to independent living for young people in out of home care, a nationally consistent approach to working with children checks and responding to sexual abuse.