Safe & Sound in Queensland: Enhancing safety for young people missing from care

In partnership with Project Paradigm and Queensland Family and Child Commission, PeakCare is proud to introduce Safe & Sound in Queensland: Enhancing safety for young people missing from care, a first-of-its-kind toolkit aimed at supporting frontline workers to provide best practice responses for children who go missing from their home or place of care.

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A Roadmap for Residential Care in Queensland

In late 2023, the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services undertook a major review of Queensland’s residential care system. A key outcome of the review is A Roadmap for Residential Care in Queensland, which outlines critical actions across five domains for change, that will deliver a flexible and sustainable care system that meets the needs of children, young people, families and communities.

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Motor Vehicle Safety Guidelines – FAQs and clarifications

In late 2023, the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services released the Motor Vehicle Safety – Guidelines for Child Protection Placement Services. These guidelines cover a range of vehicle safety requirements and aim to assist non‑government organisations to develop and refine their own motor vehicle safety processes.

Following release of the guidelines, several questions were raised with PeakCare by child and family sector organisations relating to the interpretation and operationalisation of these guidelines. In response, PeakCare has facilitated a series of review and clarification activities with the department which has resulted in amendments to the guidelines and the development of the Frequently Asked Questions and clarifications

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Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 – 2031

Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 – 2031 sets out how we can work together to ensure that children and young people in Australia reach their full potential by growing up safe and supported, free from harm and neglect.

Safe and Supported sets out how all governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and the non government sector will work together to help children, young people and families in need of support.

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National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020

The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 is a long-term approach to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Australia’s children and aims to deliver a substantial and sustained reduction in levels of child abuse and neglect over time.

The National Framework is for commonwealth, state and territory governments, non-government organisations, service providers and individuals with an interest in ensuring Australia’s children are safe and well.

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National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children Fourth Action Plan: 2018-2020

The Fourth Action Plan is the final Action Plan of the National Framework and will continue to build the foundations and evidence base that will enable us to continue to improve outcomes for Australia’s children and young people beyond 2020.

The four key priorities of the Fourth Action Plan are:

  • Improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children at risk of entering, or in contact with child protection systems.
  • Improving prevention and early intervention through joint service planning and investment.
  • Improving outcomes for children in out-of-home care by enhancing placement stability through reunification and other permanent care options. Improving organisations’ ability to keep children and young people safe from abuse.
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U.N Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights -civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognised that children have human rights too.

The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children’s rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.

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UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Child Friendly Language

“Rights” are things every child should have or be able to do. All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Almost every country has agreed to these rights. All the rights are connected to each other, and all are equally important. Sometimes, we have to think about rights in terms of what is the best for children in a situation, and what is critical to life and protection from harm. As you grow, you have more responsibility to make choices and exercise your rights.

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Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

The legal requirement to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect is known as mandatory reporting. All jurisdictions possess mandatory reporting requirements of some description. However, the people mandated to report and the abuse types for which it is mandatory to report vary across Australian states and territories. This document outlines these things.

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Information and Sharing to Assist Families and Children in the Child Protection System – Australian Government Department of Social Services

This study assesses what the Commonwealth government can do to improve the effectiveness of information sharing for families and children in the child protection system. It focuses on how to expand the role of Commonwealth agencies, Centrelink primarily and, to a lesser extent, the Child Support Agency (CSA), and the Family Court in providing information to child protection agencies.

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Towards Collaboration A Resource Guide for Child Protection Services & Family Violence Workers: Victorian Government of Australia

Early experiences have an effect on emotional development, the organisation of behaviour and personality. Experience shapes brain functions, and early experiences shape the foundations of life’s behavioural responses. Just because children cannot talk about their experiences does not mean that they cannot remember. Early intervention in trauma is not just for the child, or the parent: it is for the future too (Hewitt, 1999).

Towards Collaboration provides support and information, and enhances cross-sector collaboration. The resource guide provides a strong basis for regional development or reviewing protocols between local support services.

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Adoption Act 2009

The Act provides for the adoption of children in Queensland, and for access to information about parties to adoptions in Queensland, in a way that: promotes the wellbeing and best interests of adopted persons throughout their lives; and supports efficient and accountable practice in the delivery of adoption services; and complies with Australia’s obligations under the Hague convention.

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United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, often referred to as the Beijing Rules, is a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly regarding the treatment of juvenile prisoners and offenders in member nations.

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Queensland Child Protection Act

The Child Protection Act 1999 is the primary legislation providing for the protection of children in Queensland.

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Child Protection Regulation 2011

The Child Protection Regulation 2011 is a subordinate piece of legislation under the Child Protection Act 1999.

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How to Make a Complaint

This information is available to help you make a complaint and to understand the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women’s complaints management process.

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Child protection Australia 2017-18

This report contains comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system.

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Adoption Regulation 2009

The Adoption Regulation 2009 is a subordinate piece of legislation under the Adoption Act 2009.

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Child protection Australia 2017-18

This report contains comprehensive information on state and territory child protection and support services, and the characteristics of Australian children within the child protection system.

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Adoption Regulation 2009

The Adoption Regulation 2009 is a subordinate piece of legislation under the Adoption Act 2009.

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