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Research

Redressing ‘unwinnable battles’: Towards institutional justice capital in Australian child protection

Australia’s history of negative child protection outcomes for children in state care highlights the sustained, systemic nature of serious harm. Situated in emerging conversations on structural challenges and state violence for parents involved in child protection systems, we trace the resources and barriers to responsive and ‘just’ child protection practice, highlighting how institutions can serve to compound disadvantage and injustice. We argue that addressing challenges such as access to advocacy at the level of the individual is to miss the underlying politics of oppression that serves to keep families marginalised.

Research

‘Can you sleep tonight knowing that child is going to be safe?’: Australian community organisation risk work in child protection practice

Risk averse practice has dominated the child protection field for decades, with high-profile child deaths, ever-tightening surveillance, and regulation of families. In this context, the practice of social work as ‘risk work’ including the use of risk assessment tools has been subject to substantial scholarly investigation. Less attention has been paid to the community organisations that play a central role in supporting child protection-involved parents. Based on interviews with Australian community workers, we examine their negotiation of the parent support/parent risk dichotomy.

Research

“If you don't speak from the heart, the young mob aren't going to listen at all”: An invitation for youth mental health services to engage in new ways of working

Building Bridges demonstrates the centrality of trusting relationships for systemic change and the way in which meaningful engagement is at the core of both the process and the outcome

Research

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and child sexual abuse in institutional settings

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commissioned The Kids Research Institute Australia to collaborate on a report

Research

Associations between school absence and academic achievement: Do socioeconomics matter?

School attendance should therefore be a priority for all schools, and not just those with high rates of absence or low average achievement.

Research

Making a difference: Engaging both hearts and minds in research practice

This paper discusses the findings and the research process undertaken thus far for the Looking Forward Aboriginal Mental Health Project.

Research

Weaving the narratives of relationship in community participatory research

The Looking Forward Project is the story of our work with the Nyoongar community working together with mental health and drug and alcohol service providers...