The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 and the Fourth Action Plan 2018-20 are ‘bread and butter’ documents for the child protection sector that should be well known to all who work within this sector – in either a government or non-government agency. They are documents that should be used to inform any strategic or operational planning being undertaken within an organisation and regularly referred to in the induction and training of new staff members and the conversations that take place during staff meetings.
PeakCare’s five questions about the Fourth Action Plan and the correct answers to these questions are as follows:
- The Fourth Action Plan identifies an action to be undertaken to ensure compliance with all four elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. True or False and why?
False. There are five, not four, elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle
- A priority area stipulated in the Fourth Action Plan addresses the enhancement of placement stability for children in care. For the purposes of the Plan, it is explained that permanency options do not encompass processes used to facilitate family reunification. True or false and why?
False. Action 3.2 contained with the plan states that the better permanency options that are to be promoted include consistent processes for family reunification that are to be explored and resolved as part of permanency planning
- A priority area addresses improvements to prevention and early intervention through joint service planning and investment. This incorporates an action to strengthen support for young people transitioning from out-of-home care into adulthood. True or false and why?
True. Under Priority Area 2, Action 2.2 requires the continuation of efforts to develop and strengthen support for young people transitioning from out-of-home care into adulthood and to improve priority access to support services.
- The Fourth Action Plan encompasses a commitment to promotion of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations that were developed under the Second Action Plan. True or False and why?
False. The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations were developed under the Third Action Plan.
- What do these word have in common – apart from starting with the letter ‘p’ – prevention, partnership, placement, participation – and what word is missing from the list?
These words are all elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle – the element that is missing from the list is Connection.