The Putting Families First (PFF) team has been announced as a finalist for the Robin Clark Making a Difference Award at the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards.
PFF is a multi-agency and interdisciplinary team supporting families in contact, or at risk of contact with the child protection and justice systems. The team is a collaboration across five agencies: OzChild, Youth Support Advocacy Services (YSAS), Australian African for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO), Charis and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). Comprised of 8 inter-disciplinary teams offering holistic support including legal, financial, family violence, mental health, child health, community health, housing and AOD services; PFF was initially funded to test better connected care initiatives in the Brimbank-Melton area.
With 74% of families referred to the program from a CALD background, and many facing critical issues – including homelessness – many families find navigating the challenges posed by the service system insurmountable. Recognising these gaps in the system that leave disadvantaged families without the necessary support, the PFF team links these families with intensive support needs to the right local services, overcoming barriers to access driven by limited knowledge or understanding of the service system.
Boasting incredible results, PFF has supported 283 family members to date, with 77% of families participating in the program having successfully completed treatment and achieved a positive outcome. From families achieving stable housing and employment to children attending school when they were previously disengaged, the transformative impact of the program extends beyond individual families to foster a stronger, more resilient community.
The 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Award winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Tuesday 3 September 2024, during Child Protection Week.
These prestigious awards acknowledge and celebrate individuals, teams and groups who demonstrate excellence in working with children, young people and families across the sector. To view the list of finalists and for more information on the awards, visit the Victorian Protecting Children Awards webpage.
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