This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of health professionals towards the reporting of child abuse in Victoria. A review of the literature suggests that this professional group lacks adequate knowledge of child abuse reporting, legislation and procedures. It is also suggested that numerous factors other than ignorance of the law may influence professionals’ cooperation in reporting or trying to deal with a case of child abuse. Finally, it was found that the introduction of compulsory reporting in the State of Victoria would not markedly increase professionals’ willingness to report. Seventy-four health professionals were included in the sample for analysis, and the results indicate that negative attitudes to the law and the competence and resources of ancillary services is more of a problem than ignorance of the law.

In the field of child welfare there is general agreement about the inadequacies and questionable effectiveness of the service delivery system. Study after study suggests that there is a wide gap between the promise of child welfare services and their performance. For instance, while the goal of a permanent home for each child has become accepted at the philosophical level, it is still far from being realized in practice, for many children are drifting in temporary, inappropriate placements.

Various solutions to these problems are usually offered, including more staff, more and better training, improved practice technology, and social action or social reform. While all these remedies are important, none would deal adequately with a recurring problem, namely, the failure of the service delivery system to promote the competence of clients and social workers in carrying out their roles and coping with life challenges. Much could be accomplished if we reconceptualized and changed practice so that it might be more conducive to the effective functioning of clients as well as social workers.

The State Government announced the appointment of a Committee of Review of Early Childhood Services in October 1982. The Committee was accorded broad terms of reference and requested to report to the Ministers of Health, Education and Community Welfare Services in nine months time. A total of seventeen members were appointed, indicating some degree of the complexity of this task, as a committee of seventeen would generally be regarded to be marginally workable. The Committee worked hard during the ensuing ten months and finalised its recommendations and completed its report in September 1983. Disagreements throughout the process of the Committee’s work finally reflected themselves in the decision of six members to withdraw their support and endorsement of the final report. A few weeks later a minority report was produced and the Government agreed to formally print the minority report and contribute to its overall distribution.

Children adopted from overseas by New South Wales families since 1975 have come from many countries, and the welfare services of these countries differ greatly. Some have adoption laws similar to those in Australia, while others have no adoption legislation at all. The regulations governing what is required of the adoptive parents also differs from country to country. Some countries insist that the adoptive parents travel to the country for assessment or court hearings, while others prefer the adopted child to travel under escort to his new country and request that the parents abide by this rule. Some countries will only accept childless couples or those of a particular age, while others have less rigid application criteria.

Intercountry adoption is expensive. Depending on the country, an adoption can cost the family anywhere between $3,000 to $15,000.