A Need for an Overhaul of Child Protection Laws

There have been recent calls for an immediate overhaul of the state’s child protection laws, with thousands of children having been removed from their families in Victoria with no hope of ever being returned.

Currently, parents only have 24 months to get their lives in order or lose their children forever, a law which is funnelling thousands of children into an already overburdened and crisis-riddled child protection system. Originally designed to remove children from high-risk situations where there was little prospect of reunification and to be placed in more stable, longer-term foster care placements, society has now evolved, carers are now in short supply, and the number of kids in care and needing help is skyrocketing. Many children are placed in crisis accommodation or in residential care, often experiencing poorer outcomes than children in home based care.

It is very important to remember that complex factors contribute to the experiences of neglect and abuse within families. We understand that many of the families we work with live within multiple risk factor environments, ranging from substance abuse, unemployment, and poverty to poor mental health, family violence, and disability. These families, grappling with interrelated issues and systemic barriers, are the largest population known to child protection. It’s imperative that there is an overhaul of child protection laws so that parents are given a fair chance to thrive, and it all begins with specialised and accessible support that focuses on holistic family treatment such as SafeCare, Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) and Functional Family Therapy – Child Welfare (FFT-CW).

For too long, our child protection system has operated in silos, often exacerbating the problems by separating parents and children under the guise of protection. The siloed approach fails families by not addressing the interconnected issues and family dynamics comprehensively. Instead, it operates on a threshold basis, delaying intervention until crises occur. Meanwhile, children endure the consequences of prolonged waiting periods and insufficient support, often experiencing trauma as a result.

And let’s not forget who the failures of the contemporary child protection system still fall hardest on, First Nations children and young people, who are 22 times more likely than non-indigenous children to be removed from their families, the highest in the nation. Research has also shown that residential care is often no better than the environment the child and young people came from, often resulting in increased disengagement from school, being sexually exploited or funnelled into the youth justice system.

It’s crucial to intervene much earlier, listening to the needs of parents, children and families and utilising evidence-based models like SafeCare, Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) and FFT – CW. These programs prioritise strengthening parenting skills and supporting healthy family interactions, which are essential to preventing child maltreatment.

Parents do not set out to fail, and it’s paramount that we advocate for them and their children. Unfortunately, child protection often takes a backseat to other political priorities, hindering progress in reforming the system. We must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children over other considerations, advocating for timely and evidence-based interventions.

At OzChild, we are committed to delivering programs and services that work, driving down the rates of child abuse and neglect while keeping children and young people with their families. By investing in holistic support, early intervention, and evidence-based practices, we can break the cycle of disadvantage and ensure a brighter future for all children. It’s time for a paradigm shift in child protection, one that prioritises families and empowers them to thrive.