Fin WA has a community and systems advocacy focus. As part of Fin WA’s work in systemic advocacy, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
Around 80% of substantiated child harm in Australia is concerned with psychological harm or neglect. These are associated with family violence, poverty, homelessness, parental ill health, and other social and public health issues. They are rarely the result of parental deficits alone.
Recognising this context, Fin WA seeks to address the structural barriers that impact families coming to the attention of child protection interventions. As part of Fin WA’s systemic advocacy approach, we work with parents, families and stakeholder groups to inform decision makers about the need for respectful inclusion for families at all points in the child protection system; from prevention and early intervention to out of home care.
It is increasingly recognised that families need to participate in child protection practice and processes if intervention to keep children safe is to succeed. Peer advocacy and parent leadership is emerging internationally as a practice and policy strategy that addresses power imbalances and underlying causes while also improving the relational focus in child protection agencies.
Some of the ways we utilise the lived experience voice to inform and influence system change include:
- Participation in departmental and cross sector forums and working groups
- Participation in new and emerging research on the child protection system
- Seeking funding opportunities to further the lived experience voice in service design eg peer support
- Undertaking consultations or contributing to submissions to departmental, government or other inquiries.