Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-18T09:20:38.205Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Child protection services in Queensland post-Forde Inquiry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Clare Tilbury
Clare Tilbury*
Affiliation:
School of Human Services Griffith University,Logan Campus University Drive, Meadowbrook. Qld 4131 Email: c.tilbury@griffith.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There have been major developments in child protection services in Queensland since the 1999 Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (the ‘Forde Inquiry’). This article discusses the nature of the changes that have occurred against the backdrop of a major debate in contemporary child protection research and practice – balancing forensic/legalistic and family support approaches to protecting children. Based upon an analysis of departmental annual reports, budget documents, policy statements and child protection administrative data, the article examines developments in policy directions, service provision, client trends and performance during the period. It shows that significant investment has increased the quantity of services available, but policy and program developments are yet to show an impact upon service quality and outcome indicators for children and families.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , 2005 , pp. 10 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2001) Child protection Australia 1999–2000, AIHW, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2002) Child protection Australia 2000–01, AIHW, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2003) Child protection Australia 2001–02, AIHW, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2004) Child protection Australia 2002–03, AIHW, Canberra.Google Scholar
Beattie, P. (2004) ‘Government acts instantly on child protection blueprint’, Ministerial media statement, 22 March.Google Scholar
CMC, see Crime and Misconduct Commission.Google Scholar
Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (1999) Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, Queensland Government, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Crime and Misconduct Commission (2004) Protecting children: An inquiry into abuse of children in foster care, CMC, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Families (2001) Budget Highlights, State Budget 2001–02, Department of Families, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Families (2002) Queensland Families: Future Directions, Department of Families, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Families (2003a) Budget Highlights, State Budget 2003–04, Department of Families, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Families (2003b) Annual Report 2002–03, Queensland Department of Families, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2004a) Budget Highlights, Budget 04–05, Department of Child Safety, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2004b) Annual Report 2003–04, Queensland Department of Child Safety, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2005a) Budget Highlights, Budget 05–06, Department of Child Safety, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2005b) Reform of Queensland’s Child Protection System – One Year On, Department of Child Safety, Brisbane Google Scholar
Families, Youth and Community Care Queensland (1999) Budget Highlights 1999–2000, FYCCQ, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Families, Youth and Community Care Queensland (2000) Budget Highlights 2000–2001, FYCCQ, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Forster, P. (2004) A blueprint for implementing the recommendations of the January 2004 CMC report ‘Protecting children: An inquiry into the abuse of children in foster care’, Queensland Government, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Little, M., Axford, N. & Morpeth, L. (2003) ‘Children’s services in the UK 1997–2003: Problems, developments and challenges for the future’, Children and Society, 17, 205–214.Google Scholar
Mendes, P. (2001) ‘From minimal intervention to minimal support: Child protection services under the neo-liberal Kennett Government in Victoria 1992–1999’, Children Australia, 26, 1, 4–11.Google Scholar
Munro, E. (1999) ‘Protecting children in an anxious society’, Health, Risk and Society, 1, 1, 117–127.Google Scholar
Packman, J., Randall, J. & Jacques, N. (1986) Who needs care? Social work decisions about children, Basil Blackwell, Oxford UK.Google Scholar
Parton, N. (1997) ‘Child protection and family support: Current debates and future prospects’, in Child protection and family support: Tensions, contradictions and possibilities, Parton, N. (ed), Routledge, London, 1–24.Google Scholar
Prasser, S. (2004) ‘Poor decisions, compliant management and reactive change: The public sector in 2003’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, 63, 1, 94–103.Google Scholar
Queensland Government (2002) State Budget 2002–03: Ministerial Portfolio Statements, Minister for Families and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Minister for Disability Services, Queensland Government, Brisbane.Google Scholar
Reynolds, M. (2004a) ‘Robust system ensures safety of all Queensland children at risk’, Ministerial media statement, 30 March.Google Scholar
Reynolds, M. (2004b) ‘Multi-million dollar child safety computer system upgrade’, Ministerial media statement, 2 April.Google Scholar
Reynolds, M. (2004c) ‘Non-government services funding boost in Forster Blueprint’, Ministerial media statement, 23 March.Google Scholar
Spratt, T. & Callan, J. (2004) ‘Parents’ views on social work interventions in child welfare cases’, British Journal of Social Work, 34, 2, 199–224.Google Scholar
Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth/State Service Provision (2000) Report on Government Services 2000, AusInfo, Canberra.Google Scholar
Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth/State Service Provision (2002) Report on Government Services 2002, AusInfo, Canberra.Google Scholar
Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth/State Service Provision (2003) Report on Government Services 2003, AusInfo, Canberra.Google Scholar
Steering Committee for the Review of Commonwealth/State Service Provision (2004) Report on Government Services 2004, AusInfo, Canberra.Google Scholar
Tilbury, C. (2005) ‘Counting family support’, Child and Family Social Work, 10, 2, 149–157.Google Scholar
Waldfogel, J. (1998) The future of child protection, Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass.Google Scholar
Ward, H. & Skuse, T. (2001) ‘Performance targets and stability of placements for children looked after away from home’, Children and Society, 15, 333–346.Google Scholar
Whittaker, J.K. (1991) ‘The leadership challenge in family-based services: Policy, practice and research’, Families in Society, 72, 5, 294–300.Google Scholar
Wulczyn, F., Kogan, J. & Harden, B. (2003) ‘Placement stability and movement trajectories’, Social Service Review, 77, 2, 212–236.Google Scholar