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News
Professor Fiona Arney appointed Centre Director
The Centre is delighted to announce that after an extensive national and international search, the University of South Australia has appointed Professor Fiona Arney to the Chair of Child Protection and to the position of Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection. Professor Arney was Deputy Director of the Centre until she moved to the Menzies School of Health Research in early 2010 to establish and lead their Child Protection Research Program. She has built a strong body of research, especially in relation to Aboriginal children and families. This will continue to be a major priority in her new role at the Australian Centre for Child Protection and will strengthen the Centre's work in this most critical area. Professor Arney has conducted pioneering research in a broad range of areas, including families from refugee backgrounds coming into contact with the child protection system; mothers of Aboriginal infants receiving nurse home visiting; and the impact of placing a mental health nurse in a statutory child protection office, which has influenced both policy and practice. We welcome Professor Arney back and are enthusiastic about the new and exciting future directions for the Centre.
Samantha Parkinson featured in The Advertiser
Research assistant Samantha Parkinson was featured in an article in The Advertiser that focused on her research into childhood maltreatment and her very successful utilisation of Facebook for survey participant recruitment. Samantha will present her findings at the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration conference in Brisbane in August.
Sharon Dawe appointed Adjunct Professor
The Centre is pleased to announce Sharon Dawe, Professor in Clinical Psychology from Griffith University, Queensland, has been appointed an Adjunct Professor with the Australian Centre for Child Protection. Professor Dawe, along with Paul Harnett founded the internationally acclaimed Parents under Pressure (PuP) intervention program for parents with substance misuse problems and their children. The Centre is pleased to have supported Sharon's work and looks forward to further strengthening its partnership with Professor Dawe.
12th Australian Institute of Family Studies conference papers
Lisa De Gregorio and Dr Sara McLean presented a paper at the 12th Australian Institute of Family Studies conference in Melbourne, titled 'The cognitive profiles of children exposed to interpersonal stress: results of a systematic review and implications for intervention'. This paper was also presented at the Australasian Conference of Child Trauma, Gold Coast
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott and Helen Francis also presented a paper at the 12th Australian Institute of Family Studies conference, titled 'From Policy to Place-Based Practice: Seeing and Hearing the Child in Adult Specialist Services.
Samantha Parkinson presented a poster at the 12th Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, titled 'Recruiting young adults to child maltreatment research through Facebook: A feasibility study.
Families SA grant win
Dr Sara McLean recently won a Families SA grant to fund an investigation into the methodological issues in evaluating outcomes for children in residential care.
Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) Information Exchange
Associate Professor Leah Bromfield attended the VIP launch of the Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) Information Exchange in Melbourne. The information exchange aims to provide quality, evidence-based publications and resources for professionals in the areas of protecting children, supporting families and strengthening communities.
National Framework Implementation Working Group meeting
Professor Fiona Arney attended the National Framework Implementation Working Group meeting and participated in a discussion about the next three year action plan for the National Framework.
Partnership with the Aboriginal Family Support Service
The Centre recently won a five year working partnership with the Aboriginal Family Support Service (AFSS) to further strengthen the Centre's understanding and research capacity of AFSS, in particular with regards to Aboriginal child wellbeing.
Prize ceremony
On Friday 20 July Professor Fiona Arney and Kate Greenfield from the Centre attended the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages Certificate and Prize Presentation. The Australian Centre for Child Protection sponsored two prizes and Professor Arney was delighted to congratulate Lauren Waldhuter, recipient of the Australian Centre for Child Protection Student Journalism Prize - Undergraduate; and Madeline Kate Holmes, recipient of the Australian Centre for Child Protection Student Journalism Prize - Postgraduate. In sponsoring the awards, the Centre seeks to promote ethical and sensitive reporting of child protection issues in the media.
Samantha Parkinson in The Advertiser
Research assistant Samantha Parkinson was featured in an article in The Advertiser that focused on her research into childhood maltreatment and her very successful utilisation of Facebook for survey participant recruitment. Samantha will present her findings at the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration conference in Brisbane in August.
Visit from Sharon Dawe
Sharon Dawe, Professor in Clinical Psychology from Griffith University, Queensland, visited the Centre on the 19th and 20th of April. During her visit, Professor Dawe conducted a workshop on the research, principles and practice of the internationally acclaimed Parents under Pressure (PuP) intervention program for parents with substance misuse problems and their children. This was delivered to an audience of mental health, drug and alcohol workers and researchers interested in supporting children and families dealing with the issues of parental substance misuse. The Centre is pleased to have supported Sharon's work and looks forward to further strengthening its partnership with Professor Dawe in the future. More information on the PuP program can be accessed here.
Catherine Helen Spence Oration
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott presented the Catherine Helen Spence Oration to a packed theatre on April 4 in Adelaide, exploring new directions in child protection policy and practice. To listen to the podcast please follow the link here. To view Professor Scott's powerpoint slides, please click here.
To view a synopsis and review of the event, please click here.
Report tabled
On February 28, Minister Mary Wooldridge tabled the report of the Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry in the Victorian Parliament. Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott, Acting Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, was one of the three members of the panel which conducted the 12 month inquiry into Victoria's system for protecting vulnerable children.
Honours study published
Research Assistant and past Centre Honours student Samantha Parkinson has recently published the results of her very successful Honours study into Childhood emotional maltreatment: Experiences of young Australians with Facebook accounts. Samantha enjoyed an unprecedented high rate of volunteer participants in her online survey.
Workshops to be conducted
Following the very successful pilot Child and Family Sensitive Practice workshops, the Centre is conducting workshops across Australia in partnership with 12 Communities for Children programs. These workshops provide training about Child and Family Sensitive Practice for professionals from both adult and child and family services.
Honours completion
Lana Elliot has completed her Honours project under the supervision of past Director Marianne Berry. Lana conducted a review of strategies for engagement and retention of families in the Child Protection system.
PhD completion
Mary Salveron has completed her PhD research on facilitators and barriers to parental visitation following the placement of children in out-of-home care.
Welcome Stewart McDougall and Olivia Octoman
The Centre is pleased to welcome Stewart McDougall and Olivia Octoman who have commenced Honours projects at the Centre. Stewart and Olivia recently completed systematic literature reviews as part of their Australian Centre for Child Protection Divisional Vacation Summer Scholarships.
Psychology student hosted
The Centre hosted third year Psychology student, Tooba Ahmed, in workplace learning (research skills). Tooba supported literature reviews and data analysis being conducted at the Centre under the direction of Dr Sara McLean.
Publication
Arney, F., Bromfield, L., Lewig, K., Michaux, A., Antcliff, G. & Mildon, R. (2012) 'Chapter 12: Facilitating Evidence-Informed Practice: Participatory Knowledge Translation and Exchange' in Dill, K. & Shera, W. (Eds) Implementing Evidence-Informed Practice: International Perspectives. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc.
Governor General visit
The Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, visited UniSA’s Australian Centre for Child Protection on September 12. Ms Bryce, who has been the Patron of the Australian Centre for Child Protection since February 2009, has a long standing commitment to advancing the rights of women and children and a particular interest in the welfare of young people and families. The Governor-General discussed contemporary child protection issues nationally and internationally with Centre staff, the Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj and PVC of the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Curriculum Standards and Materials released
Nursing and Midwifery Education Curriculum Standards and accompanying Curriculum Materials released. Both available for download from our website "Professionals Protecting Children: Child Protection and Nursing and Midwifery Education Curriculum Standards" (pdf, 775Kb) and "Professionals Protecting Children: Nurturing and Protecting Children - A Public Health Approach.(pdf 827Kb)
Events
Workshop on Parents under Pressure intervention program
Sharon Dawe, Professor in Clinical Psychology from Griffith University, Queensland, visited the Centre on the 19th and 20th of April. During her visit, Professor Dawe conducted a workshop on the research, principles and practice of the internationally acclaimed Parents under Pressure (PuP) intervention program for parents with substance misuse problems and their children. This was delivered to an audience of mental health, drug and alcohol workers and researchers interested in supporting children and families dealing with the issues of parental substance misuse. The Centre is pleased to have supported Sharon's work and looks forward to further strengthening its partnership with Professor Dawe in the future. More information on the PuP program can be accessed here.
Catherine Helen Spence Oration
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott presented the Catherine Helen Spence Oration to a packed theatre on April 4 in Adelaide, exploring new directions in child protection policy and practice. To listen to the podcast please follow the link here. To view Professor Scott's powerpoint slides, please click here.
Report tabled
On February 28, Minister Mary Wooldridge tabled the report of the Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry in the Victorian Parliament. Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott, Acting Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, was one of the three members of the panel which conducted the 12 month inquiry into Victoria's system for protecting vulnerable children.
Child and Family Sensitive Practice workshops
Following the very successful pilot Child and Family Sensitive Practice workshops, the Centre is conducting workshops across Australia in partnership with 12 Communities for Children programs. These workshops provide training about Child and Family Sensitive Practice for professionals from both adult and child and family services.
Governor General visit
The Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, visited UniSA’s Australian Centre for Child Protection on September 12. Ms Bryce, who has been the Patron of the Australian Centre for Child Protection since February 2009, has a long standing commitment to advancing the rights of women and children and a particular interest in the welfare of young people and families. The Governor-General discussed contemporary child protection issues nationally and internationally with Centre staff, the Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj and PVC of the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Pal Ahluwalia.