Listen to thisOut-of-home care (OOHC) in Australia is primarily governed at the state and territory level. Each jurisdiction is responsible for its own child protection laws, funding arrangements, and service systems. While there is a national framework that establishes shared principles and goals, it is the states and territories that define the specific policies, funding, and regulatory approaches. This decentralized system means that while there are common trends emerging, there is significant variation in how child protection services are delivered across the country.
In recent years, several states and territories have embarked on reforms aimed at shifting child protection services towards a public health model of early intervention. This approach is supported by several studies, including the recent large-scale epidemiological ‘Australian Child Maltreatment Study’. At the core of this reform is the prioritisation of family preservation, a strategy that seeks to keep children safely with their families whenever possible. This approach is particularly important given the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the OOHC system and the loss of cultural connection and identity that is often associated with this. These reforms reflect an urgent need for a more holistic, preventative approach to child protection that addresses both the immediate and underlying causes of child removal.
One of the primary objectives of the current reform efforts is to reduce the number of Aboriginal children entering OOHC. A key strategy for achieving this is the increased involvement of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in the child protection process. This shift is expected to improve outcomes by ensuring that child placement options are explored in culturally appropriate ways and that children receive culturally relevant care. By strengthening the role of Aboriginal-led organizations, the reforms aim to increase the number of kinship placements, where children are cared for by extended family members, reducing the reliance on institutional care. Kinship care not only preserves cultural connections but also improves stability and emotional well-being for children.
Alongside this, the government is focusing on evidence-based care models. These models are designed to improve the long-term outcomes for children and young people by using data-driven practices and performance metrics to ensure care interventions are effective. By improving the collection and analysis of data, policymakers can better monitor the effectiveness of different care models and make improvements where necessary. This approach is expected to lead to more informed decisions, better allocation of resources, and ultimately, better care for children.
At the heart of these reforms is a focus on relational care. While the ultimate goal is to keep children safe, there is a growing recognition that maintaining connections with family and significant others is crucial to a child’s development. Even when children cannot return to their homes, preserving these connections is vital for their long-term well-being.
Despite the promise these reforms hold, significant challenges remain in translating them into real-world practice. Embedding these new approaches will require sustained investment, careful planning, and ongoing support for workers and carers on the ground. The successful implementation of these reforms will depend on the capacity of each state and territory to adapt to these new models, given their varied levels of resources and local challenges.
In conclusion, while Australia's out-of-home care system is undergoing much-needed reforms, the path forward is complex. The focus on family preservation, the greater involvement of Aboriginal communities, and the adoption of evidence-based care models represent a promising future for children, young people, and families. However, these reforms will only succeed if they are carefully implemented, adequately resourced, and driven by a genuine commitment to improving the lives of children and families nationwide.
