August update from the Children's Guardian
Providing support for vulnerable children requires multiple systems to work together. At its best, it’s where systems interlink and coordinate; at its worst, it’s where systems collide.
This month I had the opportunity to speak at the Fams 2023 conference.
Fams is a NSW peak body that supports not-for-profit community service providers.
In my address, I spoke about the need to widen the lens in child protection so that we can focus on the many systems that come into play for vulnerable children and families.
When I was Disability and Community Services Commissioner, I saw a recurring theme in my work with families who came into contact with child protection services. This was the frequency with which these families faced the ‘trifecta’ of disadvantage – family violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
This challenge highlights the need for systems to work in partnership, not in silos.
All the evidence shows that we need a joined-up systems approach to support children and families, with strong governance and services.
We need both government and non-government sectors to have line-of-sight over these issues, working collectively.
In making this observation, I also acknowledge the many fantastic local initiatives that are delivering results and whose potential we need to tap into. We also need mechanisms for identifying what’s already working, and for scaling up these successes across other communities.
From a regulator’s perspective, the Office of the Children’s Guardian needs to facilitate coordinating around the child’s best interest by committing to work in partnership with providers, recognising we are here to support those who are delivering services day to day.
This month I also attended the Aboriginal Child Safety and Wellbeing Reform Forum hosted by Families and Communities Minster, Kate Washington.
The forum brought together key stakeholders, leaders and community representatives over two days to talk about how we can reshape the future for Aboriginal children and young people in NSW.
Next week is Child Protection Week and I’ll be heading off to the SNAICC Conference in Darwin. I’m looking forward to learning from expert presenters and thinking about how we elevate the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in child protection.
