Our services
The following publications are about services we offer:
| Publication title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Child protection Queensland: 2006-07 performance report | This report is the fourth annual statistical report on the child protection system in Queensland, produced in accordance with Section 248 of the Child Protection Act 1999. The 2006-07 performance report highlights both the demand on and performance of the child protection system during 2006-07, the system progress made since the 2005-06 performance report, as well as emerging issues or areas requiring attention. |
| Child protection Queensland: 2005-06 performance report | This report is the third major report under a whole-of-system performance framework established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission's (CMC) report Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care as described in the Blueprint. The 2005-06 performance report highlights both the demand on and performance of the child protection system during 2005-06, the system progress made since the 2004 'Baseline' performance report, as well as emerging issues or areas requiring attention. |
| Child protection Queensland 2004-05 performance report | This report is the second major report under a whole-of-system performance framework established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission's (CMC) report Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care as described in the Blueprint. The 2004-05 performance report highlights both the demand on and performance by the child protection system during 2004-05, the system progress made since the 2004 'Baseline' performance report, as well as emerging issues or areas requiring attention. |
| Child protection Queensland: 2004 child protection system baseline performance report | This report is the first installment in an annual performance measurement framework established by the Queensland Government to monitor, review and evaluate the effectiveness of the child protection reform agenda. |
| Child safety research strategy 2006-2009 | The purpose of the Child safety research strategy is to support and enhance links between research, policy and practice. The research strategy directly supports, 'leading and creating best practice through innovation, research and evaluation' (Strategic Plan 2006-10). |
| Disability service plan 2007-10 | The purpose of the Disability service plan is to provide increased responsiveness and gradual improvement of government services in addressing the needs of people with a disability and, in keeping with our first priority, it has a particular focus on children and young people in the care of the department, and our staff. |
| Language identification card | The language identification card has been developed as a resource to assist Child Safety staff in being better prepared for interventions with children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The language identification card can be used by Child Safety staff members when in contact with a client who does not speak English |
| Department of Child Safety - protecting children and young people (translated into Arabic, Cook Islands Maori, Dinka, Filipino/Tagalog, Samoan, Tongan, Torres Strait Creole) | These fact sheets provide information on our services including foster care and has been translated into seven languages. The first six languages commonly spoken by clients were identified through a survey of zonal offices. The seventh language, Torres Strait Creole, was selected in response to requests for resources for Indigenous communities by the Far Northern Zone. |
| Wanem Sail Proteksan Oda? (What are child protection orders? - Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure outlines the different types of child protection orders in Queensland. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. |
| Wen ol Sail Seipti Opesa kam po aus blo yu (When child safety officers visit your home - Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure explains what a person can expect prior to, during and after a home visit conducted by child safety officers. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. An English language version of this brochure is also available. |
| Recognised entities (Torres Strait Creole translation) | This brochure explains the role of Recognised Entities and the types of decisions they should be involved in. It outlines that Recognised Entities should be involved in every step of the child protection process as well as changes to temporary arrangements, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are concerned. It has been translated into the Indigenous language of Torres Strait Creole for clients who speak this as their first language. |
| Missing pieces: information to assist former residents of children's institutions to access records | The Department of Child Safety is committed to providing former residents of care institutions with information about themselves and access to their records. This publication is designed to provide information about the records of institutions that have been located to this date. |
| Child health passport | The child health passport records a child's or young person's health information and provides carers with the information they need to meet the child's day-to-day health needs. The passport is to be updated throughout a child's or young person's time in out-of-home care and moves with the child or young person if they change placement. |
| Foster carer screening and assessment practice paper | The purpose of the assessment of foster carer applicants is to ensure that members of the community who apply to become foster carers are assessed and approved in accordance with the Child Protection Act 1999. This practice paper outlines the assessment criteria and phases of assessment to provide safe and accountable care environments for children and young people who are subject to statutory child protection intervention. |
| Standard training (Quality care: Foster care training) | Following initial approval as a foster carer, our department or licensed care service providing support to the foster carer will ensure that each foster carer has an individualised learning plan, recorded as part of their Foster Carer Agreement. Standard training consists of three modules. Each module includes a session plan, slides/overhead transparencies (OHTs), handouts, assessment worksheets and evaluation form. |
| Events calendar | A list of important events on the Department of Child Safety calendar. |
| Carer handbook | The Carer handbook was produced with valuable input from foster and kinship carers, and provides information to assist all carers with the day to day issues they face in caring for children - from health and education matters to decision making, legal issues and emotional well-being. It also details the financial assistance available. |
| Foster and kinship carers... make a difference | This brochure discusses what foster and kinship care is, how you can help, who can be an approved carer, the training carers receive, how carers are supported and who to contact for more information. |
| Help keep our mob together… become a foster carer (Torres Strait Islander) | This brochure outlines what foster care is, who can be a foster carer, how foster carers are supported, what is the financial assistance available and who to contact for more information. |
| Help keep our mob together… become a foster carer (Aboriginal) | This brochure outlines what foster care is, who can be a foster carer, how foster carers are supported, what is the financial assistance available and who to contact for more information. |
| Steps to becoming a kinship carer | Once you have made the decision that you are interested in being a kinship carer, there are a number of steps you go through to become approved as a kinship carer. This fact sheet outlines the steps to becoming a kinship carer, the approvals and application process and what happens if your application is approved by the department. |
| Foster and kinship care - do you have what it takes? | This fact sheet outlines the carer qualities and abilities that a good foster or kinship carer brings to the role and the rewards and challenges of foster and kinship care. |
| Keep our kids in our community - become a foster carer | There is a real need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become foster and kinship carers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This fact sheet outlines; what is foster, kinship and support care, what financial allowances are available, who can be a foster or kinship carer, how to become a foster or kinship carer, how carers are supported and who to contact for more information. |
| Annual report 2006-07 | In 2006-07, the most widespread child protection reforms in Queensland's history culminated in the completion of all 110 recommendations of the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) report Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care. The significant achievements outlined in this report are the result of the hard work of thousands of dedicated people; departmental staff, foster and kinship carers and our government and community parents. |
| Annual report 2005-06 | Our second full-year annual report for 2005-06 illustrates how the department has continued to rebuild Queensland's child protection system. By 30 June 2006, the department had implemented 95 of the 110 recommendations outlined in the Crime and Misconduct Commission report, Protecting children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care. |
| Annual report 2004-05 | The 2004-05 financial year was a year of significant change and achievement for both the department and the Queensland child protection sector as a whole. This annual report outlines the Department of Child Safety's key roles and functions and details its performance and achievements against its strategic intents during 2004-05. |
| Annual report 2003-04 | This annual report covers the Department of Child Safety from the date of its establishment on 13 February until 30 June 2004, as well as child protection activities undertaken by the former Department of Families from 1 July 2003 until 12 February 2004 when that department was abolished. This annual report provides an overview of the Department of Child Safety's performance and activities during 2003-2004. |
| Foster and kinship care - allowances and benefits | Foster carers and kinship carers receive a fortnightly caring allowance, which is a contribution towards the costs of caring for the child or young person placed with you by the Department of Child Safety. It covers items such as food, clothing, household provisions, gifts, pocket money, entertainment and other everyday costs of caring for a child. This fact sheet discusses the caring allowance, other financial assistance available and the payment schedules. |
| Information for kinship carers | This fact sheet discusses; what is a kinship carer, what allowances are available, how to become a kinship carer, training required, support received, what you will need to do and how to obtain more information. |
| Steps to becoming a carer | Carers can have a positive impact on a child or young person's life, and can provide the extra support children need in what can be a difficult and confusing time in their lives. To become an approved carer you will need to participate in an assessment process and where relevant, complete pre-service training. |
| Steps to becoming a foster carer | Once you have made the decision that you are interested in being a foster carer, there are a number of steps you go through to become approved as a carer. This fact sheet outlines the steps to becoming a foster carer, the approvals and application process and what happens if your application is approved by the department. |
| Testimonies about foster and kinship care | This fact sheet has testimonials from a foster carer, a support carer, a kinship carer and a young person in care. |
| Foster and kinship care - types of care | Foster and kinship carers can be an individual, couples or even a team of adults. All sorts of people of different ages, backgrounds and family circumstances are foster carers. With this in mind there are a number of roles within foster and kinship care for consideration, this fact sheet addresses the different types of care, including; support care, emergency care, short-term care, long-term care and specialist care. |
| Foster carer card | The foster carer card was introduced by the Queensland Government to recognise the valuable contribution that foster carers and kinship carers make to their communities and the lives of the children and young people they care for. This fact sheet discusses; what is the foster carer card, who is eligible, how to obtain one, which businesses accept the foster carer card, and its conditions of use. |
| Family contact - information for foster carers | Continued contact with their biological families is fundamental to children and young people in maintaining a sense of self-value and identity. It has significant effects on the emotional and physical development of children and young people and can help them deal with the grief and loss they experience when they leave their family and enter out-of-home care. This fact sheet discusses the benefits of maintained family contact, the department's responsibilities, the role of the foster carers, how to maintain family contact and how to handle difficulties. |
| Therapeutic and medical needs for a child in care | Most children and young people who are in out-of-home care have experienced harm or trauma in their life. This will impact on each child and young person differently. The Department of Child Safety is responsible for ensuring that each child or young person receives the help they need from appropriate services. This fact sheet discusses the therapeutic and medical needs of the child or young person and the combined support required to identify these needs. |
| Learning opportunities for carers | Whether you are an experienced carer or new to the role, everyone can benefit from learning more about being a carer. This fact sheet discusses the benefits of informal and formal training and the different training requirements for foster carers and kinship carers. |
| Support for carers | Being a foster carer or kinship carer is a challenging role with certain stresses and pressures. Research shows that carers who feel supported: achieve better outcomes for children and young people in their care, continue in their role as carers for longer periods of time and are less likely to experience 'burnout'. This fact sheet discusses providers of formal and informal support, the importance of building a support network and other important contacts. |
| Keeping a life diary | Each child or young person in care should have a record of their placement and their time spent in foster or kinship care. For this reason it is important to keep written records, such as a life diary or life story, for the child or young person as well as precious items, such as special toys, clothes, certificates, photos and mementos of special occasions to help the child or young person remember their life history. |
| What is provisional approval? | Under the Child Protection Act 1999 a person can be provisionally approved as a foster carer or kinship carer, allowing them to care for a child or young person while their application to be a foster carer or kinship carer is decided. This fact sheet outlines the time limits for provisional approval, the minimum requirements for provisionally approved carers and the key steps to becoming a provisionally approved carer. |
| Foster carer card business directory | This directory lists businesses offering various discounts to foster carers in Queensland and is printed and sent to all carers every six months. |
| Adoption release information | Our Adoption Services Queensland Unit can assist persons adopted in Queensland to access information about their adoption. Non-identifying information can be provided, as well as identifying information where an objection to the disclosure is not in place. |
| Adopting a child from Queensland | Children requiring adoptive placements under the General Children's Adoption Program are up to two years of age. The majority of children requiring placement have been between five and nine months of age at the time of their adoption. If a child has specific and significant needs — for example, relating to their cultural background, or relating to a significant medical condition or disability - the child's placement needs may be best met under the Special Needs Children's Adoption Program. |
| Considering adoption for your child? | This information is relevant if you are a birth parent considering adoption for your child. Adoption transfers the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood from the child's birth parents to their adoptive parents. The department's Adoption Services Queensland Unit can provide information to help parents make an informed decision about whether adoption is the best option for securing future care for their child. |
| Centenary of care for children | Centenary of care for children was published in 1979 by the then Department of Children's Services to mark one hundred years of government services to families in Queensland. This publication provides an historical record of departmental services such as foster care, adoption, and institutional care. Researchers and people working on family histories may find the information and photographs of interest. |
| Brighter Futures magazine | The Department of Child Safety's monthly magazine which contains the latest news about the services, programs, policies and initiatives of Queensland's lead child protection agency. |
| Horizons - child protection research newsletter | Published quarterly, Horizons offers practitioners and policy makers a snapshot of recent and relevant research into child protection. The newsletter is primarily an internal publication for the Department of Child Safety and is distributed to all child safety service centre's and zonal offices. |
| Collaborating to achieve better child protection outcomes | The Queensland Department of Child Safety has embraced a new framework of government and community partnership – one that is designed to improve service planning and delivery in the State's child protection sector. Through a multi-level planning and partnerships network, the department and its partners are scoping and shaping services in a way that fuses partnerships into service planning and delivery. |
| Prospective adoptive parent education program, intercountry adoption (Edition 1) | The purpose of the Education Program for prospective adoptive parents is to provide information and support to assist you in assessing your capacity, capability and motivation to adopt a child. Many adoptive parents feel that during this time they are able to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to proceed with adoption. |
| General children’s adoption program information booklet Queensland | This booklet provides information on general children's adoption and the process for couples seeking to be assessed as suitable adoptive parents for a child requiring an adoptive family. |
| Intercountry Adoption Program Information Booklet Queensland | In this booklet you will find information about intercountry adoption and the process for couples seeking to be assessed as suitable adoptive parents for a child from an overseas country requiring an adoptive family. In Queensland this process occurs in several stages, starting with the initial enquiry, lodgement of an expression of interest, establishment of eligibility, education, assessment, determination of suitability, the overseas process, travel and post placement follow up. |
- Last updated
- 1 July 2009