New York News
New Australian Catholic University (ACU) research shows that more must be done to support children’s participation in child protection to ensure they have a voice when making decisions about their protection. ACU social work lecturer and study lead Dr. Elise Woodman said the new research revealed gaps between policy and practice.
It also identified the ongoing challenge of implementing best practice in child protection when workers had high caseloads and limited time to build relationships with children.
Dr. Woodman, from the School of Allied Health, worked with ACU Emeritus Professor Morag McArthur and Dr. Steven Roche from Charles Darwin University. They conducted in-depth interviews with 18 child protection practitioners to determine how they understood children’s participation.
The results, published in Child & Family Social Work, showed most practitioners understood and valued participation but found it difficult to implement. Some discussed p