Strategies for Practice

Australian social policy provides frameworks and programs to support children and families in different social environments. The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 prioritises prevention and early intervention in cases of children who might be at risk of harm, including those placed in OOHC (Department of Social Services, 2021). Various state-based OOHC systems, such as the Permanency Support Program in NSW, aim to facilitate stable and secure placements and improve the life outcomes of children who find themselves in care.

Legal arrangements for custody, visitation, and decision-making responsibilities for families separated are provided by the Family Law Act 1975, while Family Relationship Centres provide mediation and counselling. The Stronger Rural Health Strategy, along with initiatives such as the Remote School Attendance Strategy, provide for the elimination of barriers faced by geographically isolated families in service delivery and engagement in education.

However, the challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to services for rural communities and culturally safe, trauma-informed care to children in OOHC (AIHW, 2023).