Child Protection Partnership Forum
The Child Protection Partnership Forum is made up of community and government agencies working together in child protection.
Forum members have a shared purpose of improving outcomes for children and young people who have been harmed or who are at risk of harm, and their families. It has been identified that the continued growth in the number of families entering the statutory system necessitates that the scope of the forum focus on the safety and well-being of children and families who are clients of the Department of Child Safety and/or clients subject to Referral for Active Intervention (RAI) where it intersects and impacts on the statutory system process.

The outcomes being sought by the Child Protection Partnership Forum are that:
  • the safety and well being needs of children and young people in the statutory system are effectively met; and

  • families of children in the statutory system are supported to care for their children.
Within the parameter of the overarching outcomes, the Forum will provide strategic advice to develop the service system (government and non- government) including:
  • development of policy and new initiatives

  • development of service capacity

  • promotion of quality services

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  • the intersection with Referral for Active Intervention (RAI)


Membership of the Forum consists of peak child protection bodies and representatives from the key service types, Child Safety representatives from key government organisations and an academic representative - working together to achieve a shared purpose. The membership includes one representative from each of the following:
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Partnership

  • CREATE Foundation

  • Family Inclusion Network

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  • Foster Care Queensland

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  • PeakCare Queensland

  • Non-government representative from the main funded service types

    • -Indigenous Recognised Entity (WuChopperen Health Service)
    -Placement Service (Churches of Christ Care)
    -Support Service (Lifeline Community Care)

  • Child Safety Directors Network - Department of Premier and Cabinet

  • Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian

  • Department of Communities (Program Management)

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  • Department of Child Safety - Director-General, Executive Directors from Service Delivery Partnerships and Policy and Programs and Sunshine Coast Child Safety Service Centre Manager.

  • Academic
Consistent with its new focus on the tertiary child protection sector, the Forum has established four Workgroups:
1. Family Supports Workgroup – this Workgroup project is focussing on Intervention with Parental Agreement (IPA) families and the need to engage resistant clients. The group is interested in exploring strength based practice perspectives of the non-government organisations (NGOs), the links between IPA and the new Family Intervention Services. The key outcome of the group in the short term is likely to be shared training between the NGOs and the Departments Intake and Assessment (IA)/IPA staff. The group will continue with broader discussions about families in the tertiary system whilst still program managing the project.

2. Indigenous Placement Workgroup – this Workgroup is looking at what an ideal model ensuring adherence to the Child Placement Principle would look like. An ideal system could include: Early Intervention; Emergency and Transitional Placements; Informal Family Group Meetings; Support services for children with high needs; and, Out of home care placements – with a strong emphasis on kin and cultural connection throughout.

3. Transition from Care (TfC) Workgroup – a number of internal activities are underway within the Department around improving TfC practice. The Workgroup’s work will look at NGO and non departmental models and seek to compliment the Department’s research. Some focus will be given to CREATE’s TfC Kit used in other States.

4. High Risk Adolescents (HRA) Workgroup - the purpose of this Workgroup is to identify specific issues within child protection practice that relate to High Risk Adolescents. These include: defining and profiling HRAs; the case management of HRAs; and identifying best practice in intervening and supporting HRAs.
 Should you wish for further information please contact Tim Johnston (Principle Planning and Partnership Officer)

Tel. 3368 1050

Email. tjohnston@peakcare.com.au