As part of the Queensland Government Social Benefit Bonds Pilot Program, UnitingCare Queensland (UCQ) has been successful in attracting private funding to bring a new service to support Queensland families. Newpin Queensland, will be delivered in three locations, the first centre to begin operation is in Cairns, the second centre will be located in Caboolture and is due to open in 2019 and a third centre will open over the course of the SBB contract. Newpin Queensland will work to reunite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other vulnerable children currently in out-of-home care, with their families.
Newpin is an evidence-based intensive therapeutic program aimed at breaking the cycle of intergenerational child neglect and abuse. Key program outcomes are the safe reunification of children in care to their families and preventing their re-entry into the out-of-home care system.
Newpin specialises in engaging parents whose children are in the Queensland foster/kinship care system, where reunification is an appropriate goal. Parents, children and staff work together towards reunification under the Newpin core values of Safety, Equality, Empathy, Respect and Self-determination. Families will be referred by the local Child Safety Service Centre.
An essential part of the Newpin program is the quality time spent with a parent and their child together. This allows Newpin staff to observe parent and child interactions, to work with the parent to build healthy attachments and to develop the parent’s understanding of the changing and often complex needs of their children over time.
Parents and their children will be engaged with Newpin for around nine months prior to reunification and then a further nine months post reunification. The post-reunification period is critical to facilitating the smooth transition of children from care helping to stabilise the family dynamic. The commitment from families will include twice-weekly attendance at the Newpin centre – a home-like environment designed to foster a sense of safety and security – and participation in therapeutic and educational parenting groups. In addition, parents are assisted as they integrate the knowledge and skills developed at Newpin into their own home environment.
Although Newpin is an accredited program with a consistent practice approach, centres will have the flexibility to respond to the specific needs and conditions of the client group. As such, UnitingCare Queensland’s Newpin Centres would include specific approaches and therapies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, including specialist assessment and outcome measurement tools.
A reference group has been established to provide guidance into the development and implementation of Newpin Queensland to ensure the cultural safety of the program and ensure the individual needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are represented.
To ensure Newpin Queensland is delivered in a culturally safe way, key program components such as the provision of therapeutic play program staff; will be delivered through community partnership agreements with local Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander service delivery partners.
Many parents who attend Newpin have experienced significant abuse and trauma in their childhoods. The aim of the program is to provide parents with the opportunity to address their own emotional issues, to improve bonding and attachment with their children and to develop positive parenting skills and build family resilience.