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Ipswich and Western Zone

• Toowoomba's new arrivals
• Planning and Partnerships in 2009
• Further information

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Focus is on child protection for Toowoomba's new arrivals

Maria O'Keefe, Ipswich and Western Zonal Planning and Partnerships Officer

The Toowoomba Multicultural Child Protection Project (TMCPP) funded in December 2007 by the Department of Child Safety and the Department of Communities has now been completed.

"The department's commitment to implementing the Multicultural Action Plan is demonstrated by the successful completion of the Toowoomba Multicultural Child Protection Project," Maria said.

The aim of the 12 month project is:

• To increase the department's engagement with the Toowoomba Sudanese community in order to breakdown their distrust towards notifying of child protection concerns and to increase their willingness to address child protection concerns through outside intervention.
• To enhance the Department of Child Safety's staffs' ability to undertake statutory child protection work with Sudanese children and families in a culturally appropriate manner.

Objectives:

• To increase the Sudanese community's awareness of child protection legislation and to promote the capacity of the Sudanese community to report incidents of child abuse and neglect.
• To ensure that departmental staff know how and when to engage accredited interpreters during statutory child protection work with Sudanese children and families.
• To increase the number of Sudanese families being assessed and approved as foster and kinship carers.
• To increase the number of culturally appropriate placements and case plans that are made in accordance with the principles of the Child Protection Act 1999 (S82 and S122).
• Develop parenting resources in collaboration with the Sudanese community that would enhance skills and knowledge of effective parenting strategies.

Project Officer Abraham Mabior provided cultural competence training to Toowoomba-based departmental staff In November and December 2008. Topics include Sudanese history, child-rearing styles, family values, issues for child protection staff, and language use and interpreters.

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Planning and Partnerships in 2009

2009 will focus on closer integration of placement and support systems across government and non-government through Ipswich and Western Placement and Support (IWPAS) and Darling Downs Placement and Support (DDPAS) Panels.

Child protection workforce strategy forums will be held in the Zone in consultation with the Community Services and Health Workforce Council to progress sector development Dates and venues will be posted on this site as they become available.

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Further information

For further information, contact the Ipswich and Western Zone ZPPO:

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Last updated

11 February 2009