Primary Centre contact: Dr Michele Lonsdale
Director of Social Policy and Research
michele.lonsdale@cfecfw.asn.au
The Centre conducts research across the children and family services sector, utilising data and information to drive government policy, develop new ideas for the sector, and advocate for change where it is needed most. Our Social Policy and Research team focuses on evidence-based practices, and has recently worked on projects around education, family violence, men’s behaviour change, and data regarding foster carers in Victoria. We aim to gather data and information that can drive the actions and goals of the sector, to ensure that we are providing the best support and advocacy possible to children and families across the state.
If you are interested in our research, see below our recent responses to proposed government policies and papers.
Research
The Centre and FamilyCare conducted a survey in May and June 2019 to gather information from child and family services practitioners about the impact of social security reforms on single mothers and their children. We received 169 responses and found that:
- These families are routinely in financial crisis directly linked to the design and delivery of the social security system
- This is having significant impacts on the ability of state-funded services to meet their needs.
You can read an overview of the survey findings here.
The findings were presented by David Tennant (CEO, FamilyCare) and Kelly Bowey (Senior Policy and Research Officer) at the Australian Social Policy Conference in September 2019.
Take a look at the conference paper here.
You can also view the presentation slides.
Submissions
Child Information Consultation Paper September 2017
Recent policy work
Review of the Cashless Debit Card Trial in Ceduna and East Kimberley
In Brief: A Critical Look at the Cashless Debit Card Trial
State government submissions
Submission to the Victorian Government on a Victorian Gender Equality Strategy
Response to the Victorian Government’s Lookout Education Support Centres consultation paper
Roadmap for Reform Submission from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Submissions to the Commission for Children and Young People
Submission to the Commission for Children and Young People Inquiry into the Implementation of the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Permanent Care and Other Matters) Act 2014 Consultation Paper
Responses to the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children in residential care in Victoria
Royal Commission into Family Violence
Submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
The Centre for Excellence in Child & Family Welfare provided the following submissions to the Royal Commission:
Consultation Paper – Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Out of Home Care
Issues Paper 10 – Advocacy and Support and Therapeutic Treatment Services
Issues Paper 9 – Addressing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Primary & Secondary Schools
Issues Paper 7 – Victims of Crime Compensation Scheme
Issues Paper 6 – Redress Schemes
Issues Paper 5 – Civil Litigation
Issues Paper 4 – Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children in Out of Home Care
Issues Paper 3 – Child Safe Institutions
Consultation Paper – Terms of Reference
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Submission to the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System
