18th Century
Colonisation of Australia
Colonisation decimates Aboriginal communities with diseases, alcohol, and dispossession.

19th Century
Colonies develop own legislations
Australian states/colonies develop individual legislative mechanisms concerning child protection for their jurisdictions.

19th/20th Century
‘Stolen Generation’
Forced separation of Aboriginal children from their families under policies of assimilation.

20th Century
‘Forgotten Australians’
State institutionalisation of children for a variety of paternalistic reasons.

Late 20th Century
Family Court of Australia
States gradually devolve their powers in relation to ex-nuptial children to federal court. States maintain individual jurisdiction for child protection.

1987
Legislation in NSW
Ascension of Children (Care and Protection) Act. (see hand out)

Supporting Families
Emergent view that it is better to support families and have children safely remain in the family unit than to remove the child.

Late 20th Century
Foster Care
Growing body of evidence indicating foster care is preferred model of out of home care over residential care models.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Development of convention. First developed by the League of Nations in 1924. Ratified by UN in 1990. Australia one of the first signatories.

Mandatory Reporting
The new legislation brings in mandatory reporting. That all professionals whose work is associated with children must report instances where they are “at risk of harm”.

Out of home care (OOHC), Non-Government organisation (NGO), and Children’s guardian (OCCG)
Increased use of non-government out of home care placements. NSW Children's Guardian introduces standards framework for OOHC.

1998
New Legislation in NSW
Assentation of new child protection legislation, Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act. (see hand out)

Aboriginal Overrepresentation
Aboriginal families and children are overrepresented in the child protection system. In NSW, approximately 2% of the population identify as Aboriginal. The rate of reporting 317.9 per 1000 for Aboriginal children and young people, and 76.2 per 1000 for non-Aboriginal children and young people. Approximately 32.1% (as of June 2009) of children and young people in OOHC are Aboriginal. (Wood Report, 2008; Community Services, 2010)
A System Under Pressure
In NSW, child protection reports jumped from 159,643 in 2001/02 to 309,676 in 2008/09. OOHC has a similar increase, rising from 9,273 in 2002 to 16,524 in 2009. The increases are reflective of a global trend attributed to growing awareness in the community, changing attitudes to child abuse and neglect, and forensic process of child protection. (Community Services, 2010)
2002
Investing in the Statutory Authority
NSW Government announces an increase to the funding for Department of Community Services. An increase of $1 billion over 5 years.

A System Under Pressure
In NSW, child protection reports jumped from 159,643 in 2001/02 to 309,676 in 2008/09. OOHC has a similar increase, rising from 9,273 in 2002 to 16,524 in 2009. The increases are reflective of a global trend attributed to growing awareness in the community, changing attitudes to child abuse and neglect, and forensic process of child protection. (Community Services, 2010)

The Wood Report
Child protection services inquiry completed in Nov 2008. Three volume report containing 111 recommendations. (see hand out)

Keep Them Safe
Announced March 2009, Government action-plan accepting 106 of the recommendations from the Wood Report.

Child Protection Inquiry
Two separate shocking incidents of child deaths in 2007 sparked a special commission of inquiry into the child protection services in NSW.

Inverting the Pyramid
Emergent ideas framing child protection in a public health model. Child wellbeing focus is more preventative and collaborative approach.