National Child Protection Week: Children See Children Do

Frank Quinlan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia said today with 60,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect each year, urgent action is needed to protect at-risk children.

Speaking during National Child Protection Week, Mr Quinlan said that while a critical factor in breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect is positive behavioural change at the individual level, many parents need targeted, intensive support in order to achieve this.

In May this year the Federal Government released its discussion paper: Australia's children: safe and well - A national framework for protecting Australia's children.

Catholic Social Services Australia believes the Government's proposed framework would be strengthened by a greater emphasis on supporting parents and families by addressing their basic needs.

"Better access to health care (including drug and alcohol services), affordable housing, employment, quality education, and affordable and high quality childcare, would make a big difference," Mr Quinlan said.

"Catholic services have significant experience in delivering programs that provide opportunities for education, increased parenting skills, and the development of positive support networks for all parents," Mr Quinlan said.

"Non government organisations make a significant contribution to engaging families who are otherwise considered "difficult to reach".

"Our members report that community development approaches which incorporate principles of support and empowerment are most effective in bringing about long term change," Mr Quinlan said.

The Australian Government has received almost 200 letters and submissions in response to the Child Protection Framework discussion paper released in May. The Framework will be finalised by the end of the year. Catholic Social Services Australia looks forward to engaging further with Government in the lead up to the release of the framework.

A copy of Catholic Social Services Australia's submission is available at: http://www.catholicsocialservices.org.au/node/14648

Catholic Social Services Australia provides services to over a million Australians each year through its 64 member agencies in remote, regional and metropolitan Australia.

9 September 2008

CONTACT Judith Tokley 0 6285 1366 / 0408 824 306