Discussion questions from the DECD Induction presentation, "Promoting Child Safety and Wellbeing".

1. What questions has this induction
raised for you?
Record them now for follow up in your
tutorial.
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2. Protective Practices Slides 10 - 20
 Depending on your area of study and the age group you will be working with,
find what advice the guidelines give you about one of situations outlined on
slide 14
 What questions, related to protective practices, do you think you should ask
of staff during your next placement?
 If you have a concern about an adult’s conduct at the site you must discuss
your concern with the supervising staff member at the site. What additional
responsibilities do you have to share this situation with your university
supervisor? What other circumstances must you share with your university
supervisor?
 What are your feelings about your social network profile? Are you concerned
about your “digital footprint?”
 Are any of the guidelines’ professional boundaries a concern or challenge for
you? How do you plan to manage the challenge?
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3. Vulnerability and adversity - slides 32 - 35
• slide 32 – Discuss your ideas about the kinds of impact these different
parental problems may have on children and young people (Focus on the
age of children you will be working with)
• slide 33 – Discuss how these factors increase children and young people’s
vulnerability to harm from others (or themselves)
• Research national &/or international data on the parental problems
underlying abuse and neglect. Start with Child Protection Clearinghouse
http://www.aifs.gov.au/
• Visit the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People to learn more
about the issues facing children in state care www.gcyp.com
• What child protection issues are being faced in some remote Aboriginal
communities? What impact is income management having in those
communities where it has been introduced?
• Discuss students’ views on the questions raised in slide 35
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4. Responding to Children and
Young People - slides 44 - 55 & handout
• What would you do if a child or young person produced a drawing or a
piece of writing that suggested they were being harmed? Would you speak
directly to them or share your concern with the supervising teacher? Are
there particular circumstances when you might do one rather than the other?
• Slide 44. Discuss what your institution would expect of students if they faced
this situation.
• Look at current research on whether the response children receive to their
disclosure has an impact on their long term recovery from abuse.
• Under what circumstances (in the learning or care environment) are children
or young people more likely to disclose personal problems? Where, when,
with whom?
• How important is teaching children and young people about recognising and
reporting abuse?
• What counselling services are available to adult survivors of child abuse?
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5. Team approach to supporting children young
people & their families - Slide 61
These guidelines were developed specifically to help agencies and
organisations do a better job of coordinating their support of vulnerable
children, young people and families.
• Research what advice these guidelines give
about how people should share information
when they think children and young people
face serious risks.
• What do the guidelines say about seeking
children and young people’s informed
consent for information sharing? What
role do parents have in this process?
• What do the guidelines say about the limit
of confidentiality - when can you share Access the guidelines
information without consent? from www.gcyp.com
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