National Coalition Meeting – August 2024
The National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing was held 22 August 2024 from 2.00pm to 3:30 pm (AEST). Meeting topics included:
- Updates on the Child & Family Investment strategy and Changing the Balance projects
- General National Coalition member update
The 2024 National Coalition Annual Meeting was held on 25 June
Supporting a National Child and Family Investment Strategy
The development of a National Child and Family Investment Strategy (the Strategy) is a key component of Action 2 of the Safe and Supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023-26. The Strategy will focus on shifting investment to prevention and early supports that address and prevent the underlying social determinants of child abuse and neglect. It will also drive a shift in proportionate investment for child and family services delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, towards the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) sector.
SNAICC, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) and Social Ventures Australia (SVA) have partnered to deliver the Strategy by June 2024.
Transition impacts on non-Indigenous organisations
The transition of funding towards ACCOs over the years ahead will have an impact upon non-Indigenous Non – Government Organisations (NGOs) as sector funding profiles change as the funding base of the ACCO sector increases.
Transition Impacts on non-Indigenous organisations
On behalf of the National Coalition, Families Australia were recently engaged by the Department of Social Services to undertake a complementary research project exploring the potential impact on non-indigenous (NGOs) when a portion of future child and family services funding will be transferred to ACCOs.
Goals of the Families Australia / National Coalition project included:
- Identifying primary organisational and operational challenges to be faced by mainstream NGOs from the transfer of funding allocations to ACCOs; and
- Identifying potential issues concerning future funding sustainability for mainstream NGOs in the child and family services sector.
Activities to support this work have included/will include:
- Multiple face-to-face group consultation sessions across Australia – including in remote/regional settings;
- Interviews with non-Indigenous NGO providers – large and small –across organisations of differing size, scale and geography;
- Research and presentation of case studies which highlighting the issues faced by non-Indigenous NGOs at different stages of transition;
- A national online survey
- A desktop review of the jurisdictional plans in each State and Territory for transition arrangements; and
- Development of a comprehensive report with key findings and actionable recommendations for governments.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please email: policy@familiesaustralia.org.au and one of the team will reply.
First Action Plans | Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031
Member briefing was held: Tuesday 28 March from 3:30pm-5:00pm (AEDT)
Following the release of the Safe and Supported Action Plans on 31 January 2023, the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing will be holding a Safe and Supported briefing for members on Tuesday 28 March from 3:30pm-5:00pm (AEDT). Senior representatives of the four governance partners will discuss content of the action plans, the focus of immediate efforts and be available for general discussion & questions:
- Tim Crosier, Branch Manager, Children’s Policy, Department of Social Services (representing DSS)
- Fiona Ward, Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection, South Australian Government, (representing the States and Territories)
- Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC Voice for our Children (representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group); and
- Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia (representing the National Coalition).
The National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing (National Coalition) comprises non-government organisations and researchers who are committed to advancing the national campaign on child safety and wellbeing in Australia. Families Australia convenes the National Coalition.
Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children
Release of Action Plans | 31 January 2023
The National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing welcomes the release of Action Plans to put into effect Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031.
“Supporting children, young people and families to thrive, so all children and young people are kept safe and out of the care and protection systems, is vital. For them, and for the health and wellbeing of our communities.”
“Children thrive when they and their families are supported by strong services, co-ordinated systems, and a society that values them.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our children should be Australia’s most compelling national priority. Yet, despite a decade of concerted effort to advance child safety, thousands of Australian children remain subject to abuse, violence and neglect” said Jamie Crosby, Convenor of the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing.
For a copy of the full press release click here.
More information on the Safe and Supported first action plan (2023-2026) can be found on the Australian Government Families and Children website.
The National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing
The National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing comprises over 200 non-government and research organisations including peak bodies, out-of-home care, child and family support, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, who are committed to advancing the national campaign on child safety and wellbeing in Australia.
Families Australia convenes the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing
National Coalition Steering Group
A Steering Group is the principal representative group for the National Coalition. Steering Group members also serve on the National Forum for Protecting Australia’s Children, a high-level group that also comprises senior Commonwealth, State and Territory Government officials. The National Forum meets 2-3 times per annum to oversee progress with the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 (National Framework).
Steering Group members were appointed by the broader National Coalition at the outset of the National Framework to represent a range of areas, including research, peak bodies, out-of-home care, family support, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and communities. Membership of the Steering Group has evolved in the course of the National Framework to ensure that representation aligns with Action Plan priorities.
National Coalition Steering Group members are:
- Ms Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC National Voice for Our Children
- Professor Leah Bromfield, Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia
- Professor Amy Conley Wright, Research Centre for Children and Families, The University of Sydney
- Dr Lauren Lines, Lecturer in Nursing, Flinders University
- Ms Felicity Kime, President and Peer Worker, Family Inclusion Strategies Hunter (FISH)
- Ms Annette Michaux
- Ms Amber Ward, NDIS Practice Lead, Thrive House QLD
- Mr Paul McDonald, CEO Anglicare Victoria
- Mr Chris Twomey, Leader of Policy Development and Research at the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS)
- Mr Jamie Crosby, Convenor, National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing / CEO Families Australia
Join the National Coalition
Membership of the National Coalition is free. Members receive quarterly e-bulletins. Please email Families Australia (admin@familiesaustralia.org.au) for more information.
National Coalition membership stands at over 200 organisations, consultants and academics.
The list of Members can be accessed here.