Far Northern Zone
Far Northern Child Protection News
The Far Northern Child Protection News aims to improve communication among non-government and government agencies working with children, young people and their families across the far north. Our newsletter is produced twice a year, and the next edition will be released in August 2007.
| Year | Edition |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Edition 2, February 2007 |
| 2006 | Edition 1, July 2006 |
You are invited to contribute towards the Far Northern Child Protection News.
- What can I contribute?
-
- Information about staff or service changes
- A profile of your service - what you do, what area you cover, who works for you, contact details
- Good news stories
- Promoting upcoming events
- Sharing good resources - including useful websites.
- Closing dates:
-
- August edition - Monday 6 August 2007
If you want to run your ideas past someone or need some help putting your ideas together, contact the Far Northern Zone Zonal Planning and Partnerships Officer (ZPPO).
Network arrangements
The following 'communities of interest' activities are happening in this zone's planning and partnership networks:
- Cardwell Shire Child Protection Forum
- Children at Risk Action Network (CARAN)
- Douglas Shire Planning and Partnerships Forums
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum
- Partnerships in action: the development of the Yarrabah and Cairns Referral for Active Intervention Service
Cardwell Shire Child Protection Forum
On Wednesday 22 November, twenty community-based and government service providers came together with a focus on child protection issues in the Cardwell Shire. The agenda for the meeting included an overview of the child protection continuum, the role of the Department of Child Safety, including Recognised Entity, and a discussion about the key issues and challenges in relation to child protection and children and young people in care.
Notes from the forum:
- Cardwell Shire Child Protection Forum - 22 November 2006
- Cardwell Shire Child Protection Forum - 20 March 2007
- Cardwell Shire Child Protection Forum - 18 April 2007
Children at Risk Action Network (CARAN)
The Far Northern Zonal Director, in partnership with Department of Education, Training and the Arts, recently established the CARAN.
The foundation membership of the CARAN includes:
- Department of Child Safety
- Department of Communities (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership)
- Department of Education, Training and the Arts
- Department of Housing
- Disability Services Queensland
- Queensland Health
- Queensland Police Service.
CARAN focuses on the following:
- creation of a consolidated base from which policy and funding advice can be made
- identification of better and more creative use of our current funding and resources
- identification of ways to integrate current actions (for example, case management)
- identification and mapping of the departmental actions currently in place
- development of links between new programs being launched
- joint planning for the far northern zonal activities
- creation of a strategic overview of how the members operate together in child protection service delivery.
Douglas Shire Planning and Partnerships Forums
Local service representatives have enthusiastically participated in three local forums, two in Mossman and one in Port Douglas. Through the forums, participants have committed to working together to identify and respond to local child protection priorities.
- Douglas Child Protection Planning and Partnerships Forum - 22 March 2006
- Douglas Child Protection Planning and Partnerships Forum - 15 June 2006
- Douglas Child Protection Planning and Partnerships Forum - 5 March 2007
- Douglas Child Protection Planning and Partnerships Forum - 8 May 2006
Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum
The Far Northern Zone continues to work together with foster and kinship carers through the Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum.
The purpose of the forum is to facilitate relationship building and provide a vehicle for continuous improvement, including:
- enhanced communication among carers and between carers and the department
- identification of significant issues and consistent solutions
- providing a check-point for new ideas - for example, changes that the department is planning or implementing, trends in foster care, and best practice
- identifying current and emerging trends within the zone
- discussing what is working and what is not.
The forum follows a standard format which includes information sharing, discussion of current and emerging trends and identification of best practice.
Notes from forums:
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 8 November 2005
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 14 February 2006
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 9 May 2006
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 8 August 2006
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 21 November 2006
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 20 February 2007
- Far Northern Zonal Foster Carer Forum - 9 May 2007
The 2007 dates for forum meetings are:
- 8 May
- 14 August
- 13 November
Partnerships in action: the development of the Yarrabah and Cairns Referral for Active Intervention Service
The Abused Child Trust, Department of Communities, our department and other government and community sector agencies are working together to enhance the range of services in early intervention.
Under the guidance of the Regional Manager, the Abused Child Trust is establishing a Family Assist program which will cover Yarrabah and Cairns.
Family Assist will provide services to families with children aged 0-8 years who have been referred by the Cairns North and Cairns South Child Safety Service Centres.
Further information
For further information, contact the Far Northern Zone ZPPO:
- Contact person:
- Margaret McDonald
- Telephone:
- (07) 4048 9390
- Email:
- Far Northern Zone ZPPO - margaret.mcdonald@childsafety.qld.gov.au
- Last updated
- 19 October 2007