Journal articles on the topic 'Child care services Victoria'
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1
McDonald, Paul. "Through the wall: An address to practitioners at a forum on the Working Together Strategy." Children Australia 25, no. 1 (2000): 27–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200009585.
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This address was given at a forum in November J999 for practitioners in the juvenile justice, alcohol and drug, mental health and child protection services in Victoria as part of the Department of Human Services’ Working Together Strategy’ (WTS). The WTS is a quality improvement initiative of the DHS in partnership with adolescent mental health and drug treatment service providers.WTS provides an organisational framework for the Community Care Division, the Aged, Community and Mental Health Division and the Public Health Division (specifically in reference to the mental health, child protection and care, juvenile justice and drug treatment services programs) to achieve better outcomes for shared clients. WTS is a response to perceived deficits in cross-program collaboration and communication in cases involving high need adolescent clients.
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Thornton, Katherine, Susan Webster, and Meredith Temple-Smith. "Is immunisation for children and young people in statutory care in Victoria 'all too hard'? A qualitative study with health professionals." Australian Journal of Primary Health 25, no. 2 (2019): 131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py18096.
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This formative study aimed to identify health professionals’ perspectives on vaccination issues among children in statutory out-of-home care in Victoria. Eight health professionals, drawn from a purposive Victorian sample known to be proactive in addressing the vaccination needs of children in out-of-home care, took part in semi-structured interviews. Questions addressed participants’ views about roles and responsibilities, barriers and enabling factors affecting vaccination, and ideas about systems improvements. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically. The main themes that emerged were health professionals’ observations about vaccine hesitancy among significant adults in the out-of-home care sector, the paucity of child medical history information available and diffuse responsibility for the provision of legal consent to vaccination. More accurate immunisation status monitoring appears warranted for children in out-of-home care. Unless the collection and maintenance of child medical records improves and vaccination consent processes are streamlined, health professionals will be limited in their capacity to provide efficient vaccination services to these children. Research on vaccine hesitancy among staff and carers in the statutory care sector may be of value. This study supports other Australian research that indicates these children may require more targeted, inter-sectoral immunisation approaches.
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McLean, Karen, Harriet Hiscock, Dorothy Scott, and Sharon Goldfeld. "What is the timeliness and extent of health service use of Victorian (Australia) children in the year after entry to out-of-home care? Protocol for a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data." BMJ Paediatrics Open 3, no. 1 (January 2019): e000400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000400.
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IntroductionChildren entering out-of-home care have high rates of health needs across all domains of health. To identify these needs early and optimise long-term outcomes, routine health assessment on entry to care is recommended by child health experts and included in policy in many jurisdictions. If effective, this ought to lead to high rates of health service use as needs are addressed. Victoria (Australia) has no state-wide approach to deliver routine health assessments and no data to describe the timing and use of health service visits for children in out-of-home care. This retrospective cohort data linkage study aims to describe the extent and timeliness of health service use by Victorian children (aged 0–12 years) who entered out-of-home care for the first time between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2015, in the first 12 months of care.Methods and analysisThe sample will be identified in the Victorian Child Protection database. Child and placement variables will be extracted. Linked health databases will provide additional data: six state databases that collate data about hospital admissions, emergency department presentations and attendances at dental, mental and community health services and public hospital outpatients. The federal Medicare Benefits Schedule claims dataset will provide information on visits to general practitioners, specialist physicians (including paediatricians), optometrists, audiologists and dentists. The number, type and timing of visits to different health services will be determined and benchmarked to national standards. Multivariable logistic regression will examine the effects of child and system variables on the odds of timely health visits, and proportional-hazards regression will explore the effects on time to first health visits.Ethics and disseminationEthical and data custodian approval has been obtained for this study. Dissemination will include presentation of findings to policy and service stakeholders in addition to scientific papers.
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Rodrigo, J., Hanny Calache, and Martin Whelan. "Socio-demographic profile of child and adolescent users of oral health services in Victoria, Australia." Cadernos de Saúde Pública 30, no. 9 (September 2014): 1903–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00083613.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of the eligible population of users of public oral health care services in the Australian state of Victoria, aged 17 years or younger. The study was conducted as a secondary analysis of data collected from July 2008 to June 2009 for 45,728 young clients of public oral health care. The sample mean age was 8.9 (SD: 3.5) years. The majority (82.7%) was between 6 and 17 years of age, and 50.3% were males. The majority (76.6%) was Australian-born and spoke English at home (89.1%). The overall mean DMFT was 1.0 (SD: 2.1) teeth, with a mean dmft of 3.16 (SD: 5.79) teeth. Data indicate that, among six year olds in the Significant Caries Index (SiC) category, the mean dmft was 6.82 teeth. Findings corroborate social inequalities in oral health outcome and provide suggestions for oral health services to develop strategies and priorities to reduce inequalities in health and well-being, and better coordinate and target services to local needs.
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Nilaweera, Irosha, Heather Rowe, Hau Nguyen, Joanna Burns, Frances Doran, and Jane Fisher. "Sri Lankan-born women who have given birth in Victoria: a survey of their primary postpartum health-care needs." Australian Journal of Primary Health 22, no. 2 (2016): 133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py14067.
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Women who migrate are vulnerable after giving birth. Normal postpartum adaptive challenges are heightened by separation from family and lack of familiarity with local services. The aim was to investigate primary care needs among Sri Lankan-born women with at least one Victorian-born child aged under 2 years. Health care, information and support needs and unmet needs were assessed in a structured Sinhala or English survey offered in print, online or by telephone. Fifty women provided data. Most (80%) had at least one relative from Sri Lanka to stay for postpartum support. Despite this, many had difficulties settling (62%), feeding (58%) and soothing (42%) their babies. They used significantly fewer health services on average (2.3) than mothers in the general community (2.8) (P < 0.004). Only 32% of primiparous women attended at least one First-Time Parents’ group session. Of women experiencing infant care difficulties, only two-thirds accessed care from a Maternal and Child Health Nurse and only one-third from a General Practitioner. Sri Lankan-born mothers have significant unmet needs for primary care, which are not reduced by informal support. A two-pronged approach is indicated in which women are informed about primary care availability, and the cultural competence and client friendliness of services is strengthened.
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Tierney, Len, and Meryl McDowell. "Child Welfare: Reception Centres, Regionalization, and Deinstitutionalization." Children Australia 15, no. 1 (1990): 3–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200002522.
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Between 1972 - 1980, eighteen regional offices were opened by state welfare authorities in Victoria, with the long term prospect that a comprehensive set of programmes would be developed in each region. This is part of an extensive policy change in which the reception of children into care will proceed by more diverse and local arrangements. Safe custody options already include small residential units and foster care and the very term “reception centre” is no longer part of official language. Substantial progress has been made along these lines and of the two central reception centres, Allambie (25-150 residents) is in the process of being closed and Baltara (45-70 residents) is to be redeveloped. In the most recently published planning documents redevelopment of these facilities had been anticipated by December 1990.1 However, not a great deal is known about the population of these two centres, about reception processes and why some children proceed quickly through the process and others do not. This paper examines the present status of reception centres in Victoria and reports upon a preliminary study of the reception centre population for the period 1986-1987. An argument is made that there is a case for revising reception policy and practice not only in existing centres but, in proposed new facilities and for giving more attention to services, for children and families who present with unusual difficulties.
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Mendes, Philip, and Badal Moslehuddin. "Moving out from the state parental home: A comparison of leaving care policies in Victoria and New South Wales." Children Australia 29, no. 2 (2004): 20–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200005976.
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Young people leaving care are arguably one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society. Compared to most young people, they face numerous barriers to accessing educational, employment and other developmental and transitional opportunities.Using information from interviews and a range of documents, this study compares the leaving care supports currently available in two Australian states, Victoria and New South Wales. Attention is drawn to the history of the leaving care debate in both states, the nature of the existing legislative and program supports for care leavers in each state, the key political and policy actors that have either helped or hindered the development of leaving care policies and services in each state, and the principal unmet needs of care leavers in each state.The findings suggest that NSW leads the way in terms of providing effective legislative and program supports to care leavers. The differences between Victoria and NSW are attributed to a number of factors including particularly the different relationships between the respective government bureaucracies and non-government child welfare sectors.
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Tilbury, Clare, and June Thoburn. "Children in out-of-home care in Australia: International comparisons." Children Australia 33, no. 3 (2008): 5–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200000262.
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As governments increasingly search globally for strategies to improve child welfare outcomes, it is vital to consider how policies and programs developed in other countries are likely to suit local conditions. Routinely collected child welfare administrative data can provide contextual information for cross-national comparisons. This article examines out-of-home care in Australia compared to other developed countries, and explores possible explanations for differences in patterns and trends. In doing so, it also examines the similarities and differences between NSW, Victoria and Queensland. It is argued that a sound understanding of how out-of-home care is used, the profile of children in care and the influences on data can assist policy makers to match proposed solutions to clearly understood current problems. The imperative is to plan and implement policies and programs that locate out-of-home care within a range of child welfare services that meet the diverse needs of children and families within local contexts.
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Purtell, Jade, and Philip Mendes. "Stand By Me – Flexible and Holistic Support for Young Care Leavers: Smoothing Transitions from Care." Children Australia 41, no. 3 (August 17, 2016): 208–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cha.2016.18.
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Young people placed in out-of-home care (OHC) through Child Protection in Victoria are formally discharged by the expiration of their care order at the age of 18 years or younger. In contrast, young people in Australia generally live in their family home with parents or carers well into their twenties. Whilst there are a range of leaving care and post-care services funded for care leavers, these supports tend to be temporary and discretionary in contrast to the ongoing support young people receive whilst in care or, in some cases, from family and social networks post care. Numerous studies have documented the developmental challenges experienced by young people leaving state care, and the often poor outcomes faced by this group. The Stand By Me (SBM) programme was developed in Victoria to replicate the ongoing support provided in the UK to care leavers by Personal Advisers who remain available to assist young people until 21 years of age. Evaluation of the SBM programme has shown that ongoing, holistic support, including housing support, has assisted 12 young people through the SBM pilot to access stable housing, address multiple and complex issues, and form trusting relationships with SBM workers that contribute to positive outcomes.
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Bamblett, Muriel, and Peter Lewis. "Detoxifying the Child and Family Welfare System for Australian Indigenous Peoples: Self-determination, Rights and Culture as the Critical Tools." First Peoples Child & Family Review 3, no. 3 (May 19, 2020): 43–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.7202/1069396ar.
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The toxic environment that is colonized Australia has broken many of the traditional circles of care for Indigenous children and created a service system which waits for Indigenous families to become dysfunctional before there is any response. The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) encourages an approach to Indigenous children and families which is culturally respectful, culturally appropriate and framed according to the need to respect self-determination and human rights. VACCA has developed early childhood and family welfare policies which identify how cultural-strengthening works as a preventative measure to address risk factors for Indigenous children. With the ongoing reforms to Child and Family Welfare arising from the Children, Youth and Families Act, the Victoria State Government in Australia has an historic opportunity to lead the nation in creating an Indigenous-led child and family service system which focuses on issues of prevention and early intervention. The new Act prioritizes cultural and community connection in the best interest principles for Indigenous children, recognizes self-determination and requires generalist children’s welfare services to be culturally competent. The only way to ensure that every Indigenous child is effectively cared for is by developing the capacity of Indigenous communities to look after their own by strengthening Indigenous organizations and agencies. It is Indigenous agencies who are best placed to deliver innovative programs which are culturally embedded and carefully targeted to restore the circles of care for Indigenous kids. Aculturally competent service system is what is needed to ensure better outcomes for Indigenous children.
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Mendes, Philip. "Consumer groups in child protection: Enhancing the accountability of the system." Children Australia 23, no. 2 (1998): 33–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200008610.
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The theme of this paper is the central role of consumer groups in promoting greater accountability in child protection systems. In recent years, numerous Australian authors have drawn attention to the failings of our State child protection systems. Particular concern has been expressed about the potential ‘systems abuse’ of children in care, and the failure of statutory systems to engage or adequately consider the perspectives of biological parents. One of the principal reasons for these deficits appears to be the absence of formal consultation mechanisms with consumers of protection services. This paper considers the recent rise of consumer groups of both young people in protection and care, and their parents/caregivers, in relation to the above concerns, with particular reference to Victoria. Attention is drawn to both the strengths and weaknesses of the better known groups such as the Australian Association of Young People in Care and their State affiliates, and the Parent Inquiry into Child Protection. The author believes that the role of consumer groups as a ‘watchdog’ will become even more important with the intended privatization of some State child protection systems.
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Cuthbert, Denise, and Marian Quartly. "Adoption, fostering, permanent care and beyond Re-thinking policy and practice on out-of-home care for children in Australia." Children Australia 35, no. 2 (2010): 2–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200000985.
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The papers published in this special issue of Children Australia were originally presented at a two day symposium held in Melbourne on 26 and 27 November 2009. The symposium, Adoption, fostering, permanent care and beyond: Re-thinking policy and practice on out-of-home care for children in Australia, was jointly convened by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Victoria and the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University in conjunction with the History of Adoption in Australia project (Monash University 2009).The event was a partnership between professionals working in this area and university researchers. Each group brought different perspectives and imperatives to the table. For DHS and the sector, the immediate frame of the symposium was the major policy statement Directions for out-of-home care, announced in May 2009 by the Victorian Minister for Community Services after consultation with community service organisations and young people living in care (DHS 2009a). It announces a framework for change which incorporates action on seven fronts or ‘reform directions’. These are to support children to remain at home with their families; to provide a better choice of care placement; to promote wellbeing; to prepare young people who are leaving care to make the transition into adult life; to improve the education of children in care; to develop effective and culturally appropriate responses to the high numbers of Aboriginal children in our care; and to create a child-focused system and processes (DHS 2009a). The driving principle informing the reforms is to ensure that policy and service provision are centred on the needs and interests of children and young people, and to ensure that young people are consulted as to what their needs are (rather than assumptions being made by adults as to their needs).
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Liamputtong Rice, Pranee. "Childhood Health and Illness: Cultural Beliefs and Practices among the Hmong in Victoria." Australian Journal of Primary Health 4, no. 4 (1998): 44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py98060.
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This paper examines the cultural construction of childhood illness among Hmong refugees from Laos who are living in Australia. It focuses on traditional patterns of beliefs and practices related to health and illness of newborn infants and young children. The Hmong treat childhood health and illness seriously, and for them there are several causes of childhood illness, including nature, souls, supernatural beings and human aggression. The roles of traditional healers who play an important part in childhood health and illness are also discussed. Lastly, the paper attempts to make clear some implications for child health services for immigrants such as the Hmong in Australia and elsewhere. The paper intends to contribute an anthropological perspective on child health which is particularly important in a multicultural society. A clear understanding by health professionals of cultural beliefs and expectations is essential if misunderstanding is to be avoided, and culturally appropriate and sensitive health care for immigrant children, such as the Hmong to be available.
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Campbell, Lynda. "The Families First Pilot Program in Victoria: Cuckoo or contribution?" Children Australia 19, no. 2 (1994): 4–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200003898.
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The Families First Pilot Program in the then Outer East metropolitan region of Melbourne began in mid-1991 as an intensive family preservation and reunification service for children on the verge of state care. The service offered was brief (4-6 week), intensive (up to 20 hours per week), home-based and flexible (24 hour a day, 7 day a week availability) and all members of the household or family were the focus of service even though the goals were clearly grounded in the protection of the child. This paper begins with some of the apprehension expressed both in the field and in Children Australia in 1993, and reports upon the now completed evaluation of the pilot, which covered the first 18 months of operation. The evaluation examined implementation and program development issues and considered the client population of the service against comparative data about those children at risk who were not included. The paper concludes that there is room for Families First in the Victorian system of protective and family services and points to several developmental issues.
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Doorn, Michelle Van, and Marilyn Connolly. "Commentary: Therapeutic Reparenting: What Does it Take?" Children Australia 36, no. 3 (September 1, 2011): 109–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1375/jcas.36.3.109.
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The Circle Program is a therapeutic model of foster care in Victoria. Oz Child has delivered this model of foster care in partnership with The Australian Childhood Foundation and the Department of Human Services over the last four years. Therapeutic foster care is designed to assist children entering care to heal from the affects of trauma and abuse. A significant benefit of therapeutic care is the provision and emphasis on a supportive therapeutic environment for the child in everyday interactions with the carer. It is through the child's relationship with the carer that healing can begin. In order to provide such an environment carers are trained, assessed and accredited to have a working understanding of the impact of trauma and abuse, and are provided with tools and strategies to therapeutically re-parent these children. Carers are an integral part of the team and work alongside placement workers and clinicians to understand the impact of trauma and abuse. Together they develop strategies and interventions that are therapeutic and address the impact of trauma on all aspects of the child's development and wellbeing. While considering outcomes for children within a therapeutic model it is crucial to identify particular interpersonal and parenting characteristics held by carers. This commentary will consider the defining characteristics required to be a therapeutic foster carer.
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Western, Sally. "Preventing Childhood Injury: Developing a Home Safety Display in a Community Health Centre." Australian Journal of Primary Health 5, no. 1 (1999): 76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py99009.
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Childhood injury is a major health issue, with approximately 20,000 children under five hospitalised each year in Australia. The home is a common site for childhood injuries, with some of the more frequent episodes including falls, poisoning, burns, cuts and crush injuries. A regional initiative to develop a coordinated approach towards minimising injuries sustained by children between 0-4 years, resulted in the development of 'Childsafe Now', a health promotion program which involved training of child care providers, and the establishment of several home safety displays in the Eastern metropolitan region of Victoria. One of the home safety displays was developed in a Community Health Centre, utilising a pre-existing child care facility and the multidisciplinary skills of the staff. Community Health Centres were established with a focus on health promotion - encouraging illness and injury prevention through a holistic combination of education, community involvement, behavioural and social modification and multi-disciplinary primary health care services - yet the opportunity to establish a permanent, functional display which combines all of these aspects of health promotion is becoming increasingly rare. However, the skills and knowledge which have traditionally been nurtured within the Community Health Program make Community Health Centres a particularly appropriate location for establishing a Home Safety Display.
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Paton, Kate, Lynn Gillam, Hayley Warren, Melissa Mulraney, David Coghill, Daryl Efron, Michael Sawyer, and Harriet Hiscock. "Clinicians’ perceptions of the Australian Paediatric Mental Health Service System: Problems and solutions." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 55, no. 5 (January 18, 2021): 494–505. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004867420984242.
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Objectives: Despite substantial investment by governments, the prevalence of mental health disorders in developed countries remains unchanged over the past 20 years. As 50% of mental health conditions present before 14 years of age, access to high-quality mental health care for children is crucial. Barriers to access identified by parents include high costs and long wait times, difficulty navigating the health system, and a lack of recognition of the existence and/or severity of the child’s mental health disorder. Often neglected, but equally important, are clinician views about the barriers to and enablers of access to high-quality mental health care. We aimed to determine perspectives of Australian clinicians including child and adolescent psychiatrists, paediatricians, psychologists and general practitioners, on barriers and enablers within the current system and components of an optimal system. Methods: A total of 143 clinicians (approximately 35 each of child and adolescent psychiatrists, paediatricians, child psychologists and general practitioners) from Victoria and South Australia participated in semi-structured phone interviews between March 2018 and February 2019. Inductive content analysis was applied to address the broad study aims. Findings: Clinician-identified barriers included multi-dimensional family factors, service fragmentation, long wait times and inadequate training for paediatricians and general practitioners. Rural and regional locations provided additional challenges but a greater sense of collaboration resulting from the proximity of clinicians in rural areas, creating an opportunity to develop support networks. Suggestions for an optimal system included novel ways to improve access to child psychiatry expertise, training for paediatricians and general practitioners, and co-located multidisciplinary services. Conclusion: Within the current mental health system for children, structural, training and workforce barriers prevent optimal access to care. Clinicians identified many practical and systemic ideas to improve the system. Implementation and evaluation of effectiveness and cost effectiveness of these ideas is the next challenge for Australia’s children’s mental health.
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Hooker, Leesa, Angela Taft, and Rhonda Small. "Reflections on maternal health care within the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service." Australian Journal of Primary Health 22, no. 2 (2016): 77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py15096.
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Women suffer significant morbidity following childbirth and there is a lack of focussed, primary maternal health care to support them. Victorian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses are ideally suited to provide additional care for women when caring for the family with a new baby. With additional training and support, MCH nurses could better fill this health demand and practice gap. This discussion paper reviews what we know about maternal morbidity, current postnatal services for women and the maternal healthcare gap, and makes recommendations for enhancing MCH nursing practice to address this deficit.
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Mendes, Philip, Susan Baidawi, and Pamela C. Snow. "Young People Transitioning from Out-of-home Care in Victoria: Strengthening Support Services for Dual Clients of Child Protection and Youth Justice." Australian Social Work 67, no. 1 (January 2, 2014): 6–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407x.2013.853197.
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Mendes, Philip, and Susan Baidawi. "Pathways Into Youth Justice: Strengthening Policy and Program Supports for Young People in the Youth Justice System Who Are Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care." Children Australia 37, no. 1 (March 2012): 10–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cha.2012.3.
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Local and international research suggests an overrepresentation of young people leaving state out-of-home care in the youth justice system. A range of factors appear to contribute to this correlation including child abuse and neglect, placement instability, experiences of residential care, and unsupported transitions from care. This article presents the findings of a Victorian pilot study conducted in partnership with Whitelion, a not-for-profit organisation specifically offering support to ‘young people involved with or at risk of involvement with the youth justice and/or out-of-home care and leaving care services’ (Whitelion, 2012), to examine the interrelationship between the child protection and youth justice systems, and particularly to explore the processes that take place when young people involved in the youth justice system leave state care. A series of interviews and focus groups with Whitelion workers were used to explore whether leaving care plans and policies address and minimise involvement with youth justice; the role, if any, of formal consultations by child protection services with youth justice regarding this group of care leavers; and the ongoing role of youth justice postcare, particularly when young people are in custody at the time of their exit from care. Some significant implications for policy and practice are identified.
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Hall, Teresa, Sharon Goldfeld, Hayley Loftus, Suzy Honisett, Hueiming Liu, Denise De Souza, Cate Bailey, et al. "Integrated Child and Family Hub models for detecting and responding to family adversity: protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation in two sites." BMJ Open 12, no. 5 (May 2022): e055431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055431.
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IntroductionIntegrated community healthcare Hubs may offer a ‘one stop shop’ for service users with complex health and social needs, and more efficiently use service resources. Various policy imperatives exist to implement Hub models of care, however, there is a dearth of research specifically evaluating Hubs targeted at families experiencing adversity. To contribute to building this evidence, we propose to co-design, test and evaluate integrated Hub models of care in two Australian community health services in low socioeconomic areas that serve families experiencing adversity: Wyndham Vale in Victoria and Marrickville in New South Wales.Methods and analysisThis multisite convergent mixed-methods study will run over three phases to (1) develop the initial Hub programme theory through formative research; (2) test and, then, (3) refine the Hub theory using empirical data. Phase 1 involves co-design of each Hub with caregivers, community members and practitioners. Phase 2 uses caregiver and Hub practitioner surveys at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after Hub implementation, and in-depth interviews at 12 months. Two stakeholder groups will be recruited: caregivers (n=100–200 per site) and Hub practitioners (n=20–30 per site). The intervention is a co-located Hub providing health, social, legal and community services with no comparator. The primary outcomes are caregiver-reported: (i) identification of, (ii) interventions received and/or (iii) referrals received for adversity from Hub practitioners. The study also assesses child, caregiver, practitioner and system outcomes including mental health, parenting, quality of life, care experience and service linkages. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed by examining change in proportions/means from baseline to 6 months, from 6 to 12 months and from baseline to 12 months. Service linkages will be analysed using social network analysis. Costs of Hub implementation and a health economics analysis of unmet need will be conducted. Thematic analysis will be employed to analyse qualitative data.Ethics and disseminationRoyal Children’s Hospital and Sydney Local Health District ethics committees have approved the study (HREC/62866/RCHM-2020). Participants and stakeholders will receive results through meetings, presentations and publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN55495932.
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Birleson, Peter. "Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Adolescents and Staff in Victorian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 30, no. 6 (December 1996): 805–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048679609065048.
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Objectives: The aim of the paper is to clarify the legal rights of adolescent patients, guardians and staff in Victorian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Victorian CAMHS have now been ‘gazetted’ and can admit patients on an involuntary basis under the amended Mental Health Act 1986 (MHA). The MHA applies equally to young people under the age of 18 years, which has raised some confusion about who has the right to consent to treatment. Method: Staff of CAMHS inpatient units have recently posed questions to the Victorian chief psychiatrist. These have included clarification of when the MHA may be appropriately used for adolescents, what is the clinician's duty of care, how to assess young people's capacity to consent to treatment, how to manage some patient groups, and what is the role of the courts in treatment decisions. The author provides a view on each of these matters, based on recent literature and confirmed by legal opinion. Results: Some matters of fact are presented and advice is provided. Conclusions: Services must seek the informed consent of guardians and adolescents and, for those young people with major psychiatric disorders who require treatment and are unable to consent, the amended MHA provides clearer direction for the use of involuntary treatment. Where units offer admission to provide assessment and stabilisation, a clear explanation about the treatment goals, and the role of restraint and medication in managing behaviour is essential at the outset of the admission process.
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Paton, Kate, Lynn Gillam, Hayley Warren, Melissa Mulraney, David Coghill, Daryl Efron, Michael Sawyer, and Harriet Hiscock. "How can the education sector support children’s mental health? Views of Australian healthcare clinicians." PLOS ONE 17, no. 1 (January 24, 2022): e0261827. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261827.
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Objectives Policy makers in developed countries have long considered the education system an avenue for supporting mental health care for children. Whilst educators have identified many challenges to providing this support (e.g. non-core role, stigma, overcrowded curriculum), understanding clinicians’ views on the role of educators and schools and how clinicians and schools could work together to achieve good mental health outcomes are important questions. However, clinician voices in how schools and health should work together for children’s mental health care are frequently missing from the debate. We aimed to report clinicians’ views about how the education system could support student’s mental health and improve access to mental health care for children and adolescents. Methods 143 clinicians (approximately 35 each of child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, child psychologists and general practitioners (GPs)) from the states of Victoria and South Australia participated in semi-structured phone interviews between March 2018 and February 2019. Inductive content analysis was applied to address the broad study aims. Findings Key themes emerged: (1) The role of schools in supporting individual children; (2) School based programs to support children and families; and (3) Challenges of implementing these suggestions. Clinicians across all professional groups suggested the education system could play an important role in improving access to mental health services through harnessing existing staff or co-locating mental health clinicians. They also suggested schools could identify at risk children and implement coping and social skills programs. Conclusions Schools and educators could play a key role in prevention and early intervention of children’s mental health problems. However, before recommending exactly how to do this, key evidence gaps need to be addressed.
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Page, Jane, and Patricia Eadie. "Coaching for continuous improvement in collaborative, interdisciplinary early childhood teams." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 44, no. 3 (June 27, 2019): 270–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1836939119855542.
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There is growing evidence that coaching early childhood educators leads to higher quality teaching practices and improved child learning outcomes. Despite this, there is a lack of Australian evidence on the impact that coaching in collaborative, interdisciplinary teams in early childhood education and care settings has on teacher effectiveness and by extension child learning. This paper will draw on data from two collaborative interdisciplinary research projects – the Victorian Advancing Early Learning Study and the Every Toddler Talking Initiative – to explore the features of coaching, collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships that support early childhood educators to engage in the process of continuous improvement. We argue that governance and leadership is critical in enabling interdisciplinary teams to engage in a collaborative process of continuous improvement and that threshold conditions are required within early childhood education and care services to foster interdisciplinary coaching collaborations in a sustained manner.
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Goldfeld, Sharon, Hannah Bryson, Fiona Mensah, Anna Price, Lisa Gold, Francesca Orsini, Bridget Kenny, et al. "Nurse home visiting to improve child and maternal outcomes: 5-year follow-up of an Australian randomised controlled trial." PLOS ONE 17, no. 11 (November 28, 2022): e0277773. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277773.
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Objectives Nurse home visiting (NHV) is widely implemented to address inequities in child and maternal health. However, few studies have examined longer-term effectiveness or delivery within universal healthcare systems. We evaluated the benefits of an Australian NHV program (“right@home”) in promoting children’s language and learning, general and mental health, maternal mental health and wellbeing, parenting and family relationships, at child ages 4 and 5 years. Setting and participants Randomised controlled trial of NHV delivered via universal, child and family health services (the comparator). Pregnant women experiencing adversity (≥2 of 10 risk factors) were recruited from 10 antenatal clinics across 2 states (Victoria, Tasmania) in Australia. Intervention Mothers in the intervention arm were offered 25 nurse home visits (mean 23·2 home visits [SD 7·4, range 1–43] received) of 60–90 minutes, commencing antenatally and continuing until children’s second birthdays. Primary and secondary outcomes measured At 4 and 5 years, outcomes were assessed via parent interview and direct assessment of children’s language and learning (receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, attention, and executive function). Outcomes were compared between intervention and usual care arms (intention to treat) using adjusted regression with robust estimation to account for nurse/site. Missing data were addressed using multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting. Results Of 722 women enrolled in the trial, 225 of 363 (62%) intervention and 201 of 359 (56%) usual care women provided data at 5 years. Estimated group differences showed an overall pattern favouring the intervention. Statistical evidence of benefits was found across child and maternal mental health and wellbeing, parenting and family relationships with effect sizes ranging 0·01–0·27. Conclusion An Australian NHV program promoted longer-term family functioning and wellbeing for women experiencing adversity. NHV can offer an important component of a proportionate universal system that delivers support and intervention relative to need. Trial registration 2013–2016, registration ISRCTN89962120
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Eadie, Patricia, Penny Levickis, Lisa Murray, Jane Page, Catriona Elek, and Amelia Church. "Early Childhood Educators’ Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Early Childhood Education Journal 49, no. 5 (May 10, 2021): 903–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01203-3.
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AbstractThe importance of Early Childhood (EC) educators’ wellbeing has been brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, as educators have navigated numerous additional stressors while providing education and care services for some children and ongoing support for many others learning at home. This study aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on EC educators’ wellbeing and educator-child relationships, as growing evidence shows the influence of these factors on children’s developmental outcomes.In July 2020, members of a Research Network of EC Professionals—who previously identified educator wellbeing as a priority issue—were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey included two published, validated scales: the Early Childhood Professional Wellbeing scale (ECPW) and the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale (modified). Survey items about educators’ experiences during the pandemic were also included. Two hundred and thirty-two EC educators from across Australia completed the survey, mostly from Victoria where lockdowns were most severe. Linear regression analysis demonstrated stronger professional wellbeing was associated with less conflict in educator-child relationships and lower risk of staff turnover. This was more likely to be experienced by senior or more experienced staff. Although a negative impact of COVID-19 was reported, ECPW scores were relatively high, and organizational structures supporting professional wellbeing were most strongly associated with lower risk of turnover (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Findings highlight that supporting EC educators’ wellbeing is essential for workforce retention, and for promoting quality educator-child relationships which are central to young children’s learning and development.
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Nguyen, T. M., Y. S. Hsueh, M. V. Morgan, R. J. Mariño, and S. Koshy. "Economic Evaluation of a Pilot School–Based Dental Checkup Program." JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2, no. 3 (May 5, 2017): 214–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2380084417708549.
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The objectives of this study were to perform an economic evaluation of a targeted school-based dental checkup program in northern metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria. A 12-mo retrospective case-control cohort analysis using the decision tree method evaluated the incremental cost-utility and cost-effectiveness ratio (ICUR/ICER) for passive standard care dental services and an outreach pilot intervention completed in 2013. A societal perspective was adopted. A total of 273 children ( n = 273) aged between 3 and 12 y met the inclusion/exclusion criteria: 128 in the standard care group and 145 in the intervention group. The total society costs included health sector costs, patient/family costs, and productivity losses in 2014 Australian dollars. Outcome measures were evaluated using quality-adjusted tooth years (QATY) and the combined deciduous and permanent decayed, missing, and filled teeth prevented (DMFT-prevented). A generic outcome variable was created to determine the impact of the intervention to reach underserved populations based on government concession eligibility (cardholder status). Uncertainties were incorporated using 95% confidence intervals. The mean total society cost per child is $463 and $291 ( P = 0.002), QATY utility difference is 0.283 and 0.293 ( P = 0.937), effectiveness difference is 0.16 and 0.10 ( P = 0.756), and cardholder status is 50.0% and 66.2% ( P = 0.007), respectively, for the standard care and intervention groups. On average per child, there was a cost saving of $172 and improvement of 0.01 QATY, with an additional proportion of 16.2% of cardholder children reached. The calculated ICER was $3,252 per DMFT-prevented. The intervention dominates standard care for QATY and per 1% cardholder reached outcome measures. Our study found the pilot checkup program was largely less costly and more effective compared with the current standard care. Further research is needed to quantify the value of outreach interventions to prevent dental caries development and progression in populations from low socioeconomic status. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The findings of this research demonstrated that an outreach dental program can be less costly and more effective than standard models of dental care. It showed that a school-based dental checkup program is beneficial despite other opinions that dental screening is ineffective as a method to improve public dental health. There is fiscal economic evidence to support broader expansion of similar programs locally and internationally to reduce dental caries for children from low-income families.
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Nathoo, Tasnim, Nancy Poole, Margaret Bryans, Lynda Dechief, Samantha Hardeman, Lenora Marcellus, Elizabeth Poag, and Marliss Taylor. "Voices from the community: Developing effective community programs to support pregnant and early parenting women who use alcohol and other substances." First Peoples Child & Family Review 8, no. 1 (September 9, 2020): 93–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.7202/1071409ar.
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Since the 1990s, many communities in Canada have worked to develop specialized programs to meet the needs of pregnant and early parenting women who use alcohol and other substances. These programs provide a range of services under one roof (a “single-access” or “one-stop shop” model), address women’s needs from a holistic perspective, provide practical and emotional support, and strive to reduce barriers to accessing care and support. Over the years, these programs have trialed new approaches to working with indigenous and non-indigenous women, their families, and their communities. In this paper, we describe the development of single-access programs in four different communities in Canada, discuss some of the elements of what makes these programs successful, and share our "lessons learned" over the years. We use examples from four different programs, including the Maxxine Wright Place Project in Surrey, BC; the Healthy, Empowered, Resilient (H.E.R) Pregnancy Program in Edmonton, AB; HerWay Home in Victoria, BC; and Manito Ikwe Kagiikwe in Winnipeg, MB. All four programs are based upon the "best practices" elements of: (1) engagement and outreach, (2) harm reduction, (3) cultural safety (4) supporting mother and child, and (5) partnerships. In addition to serving First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other indigenous women and their families, these programs have drawn upon indigenous knowledge in their program design, values, and philosophy and have collaborated with indigenous women in evaluation and research to track the successes of these programs and to improve service delivery.
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Morris, Heather, Melissa Savaglio, Nick Halfpenny, Renee O’Donnell, Alesia Pileggi, Andrea Dunbar, Robyn Miller, and Helen Skouteris. "MacKillop Family Services’ Family Preservation and Reunification Response for Vulnerable Families—Protocol for an Effectiveness-Implementation Study." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 19 (September 29, 2021): 10279. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910279.
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International evidence supports the effect of intensive family preservation and reunification services in preventing children’s placement in out-of-home care (OOHC). Evidence within Australia is scarce. This protocol paper describes a hybrid effectiveness-implementation evaluation of the Victorian Family Preservation and Reunification (FPR) Response implemented by MacKillop Family Services. Participants include families engaged in the program and staff involved in program delivery. A pre-post study design will be used to assess the effectiveness of the FPR in improving family outcomes from intake to closure, including: (i) parenting knowledge, skills, and capability; (ii) family safety and home environment; (iii) child development, adolescent behaviour, education attendance and attachment; (iv) connection to services; and (v) prevention of children from entering or re-entering OOHC. Interviews and focus groups will be conducted with staff to evaluate the program’s fidelity, reach, feasibility, acceptability, and enablers and barriers to implementation. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and a series of paired-samples t-tests and F tests to examine changes in outcomes over time; thematic analysis will be used for qualitative data. If the FPR can yield significant improvements in families’ outcomes, this would provide strong support for its scale-up across Australia, to better support vulnerable families.
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Price, Anna M. H., Anna Zhu, Huu N. J. Nguyen, Diana Contreras-Suárez, Natalie Schreurs, Jade Burley, Kenny D. Lawson, et al. "Study protocol for the Healthier Wealthier Families (HWF) pilot randomised controlled trial: testing the feasibility of delivering financial counselling to families with young children who are identified as experiencing financial hardship by community-based nurses." BMJ Open 11, no. 5 (May 2021): e044488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044488.
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IntroductionPoverty and deprivation can harm children’s future health, learning, economic productivity and societal participation. The Australian Healthier Wealthier Families project seeks to reduce the childhood inequities caused by poverty and deprivation by creating a systematic referral pathway between two free, community-based services: universal, well-child nursing services, which provide health and development support to families with children from birth to school entry, and financial counselling. By adapting the successful Scottish ‘Healthier Wealthier Children’ model, the objectives of this Australian pilot are to test the (1) feasibility of systematising the referral pathway, and (2) short-term impacts on household finances, caregiver health, parenting efficacy and financial service use.Methods and analysisThis pilot randomised controlled trial will run in three sites across two Australian states (Victoria and New South Wales), recruiting a total of 180 participants. Nurses identify eligible caregivers with a 6-item, study-designed screening survey for financial hardship. Caregivers who report one or more risk factors and consent are randomised. The intervention is financial counselling. The comparator is usual care plus information from a government money advice website. Feasibility will be evaluated using the number/proportion of caregivers who complete screening, consent and research measures, and access financial counselling. Though powered to assess feasibility, impacts will be measured 6 months post-enrolment with qualitative interviews and questionnaires about caregiver-reported income, loans and costs (adapted from national surveys, for example, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey); health (General Health Questionnaire 1, EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale short-form); efficacy (from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children); and financial service use (study-designed) compared between arms.Ethics and disseminationEthics committees of the Royal Children’s Hospital (HREC/57372/RCHM-2019) and South West Sydney Local Health District (2019/ETH13455) have approved the study. Participants and stakeholders will receive results through regular communication channels comprising meetings, presentations and publications.Trial registration numberACTRN12620000154909; prospectively registered. Pre-results.
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Mandal, Shubha Kamana, Leesa Hooker, Hassan Vally, and Angela Taft. "Partner violence and postnatal mental health: cross-sectional analysis of factors associated with depression and anxiety in new mothers." Australian Journal of Primary Health 24, no. 5 (2018): 434. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py17174.
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Intimate-partner violence and poor mental health are common, harmful issues for women of childbearing age. Although the prevalence and correlates of postpartum depression are well established, far less is known about postpartum anxiety. We aimed to investigate the association between postnatal depression and anxiety, and intimate-partner violence among women attending Victorian Maternal and Child Health services, using data from a randomised control trial: Improving Maternal and Child Health care for Vulnerable Mothers (MOVE). These data included postnatal women who had given birth between May and December 2010. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the association between intimate partner violence (using the Composite Abuse Scale) and postnatal depression and anxiety (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale), controlling for participant socio-demographic characteristics. Findings showed that abused women were more likely to report postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms. There was an almost two-fold (odds ratio (OR) 1.76, 95% CI 1.03–3.01) and three-fold (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.58–4.28) increase in the odds of reporting depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively, among abused compared with non-abused women. Abused women are at a higher risk of mental health problems. This study validated findings that intimate-partner violence is strongly associated with an increased risk of postnatal depression and highlighted the previously under-reported relationship with postnatal anxiety.
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Bernie, Charmaine, Katrina Williams, Fiona Graham, and Tamara May. "Coaching While Waiting for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment: Protocol of a Pilot Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial on Occupational Performance Coaching and Service Navigation Support." JMIR Research Protocols 10, no. 1 (January 7, 2021): e20011. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/20011.
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Background In Australia, the average time between a first concern of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and diagnosis is over 2 years. After referral for assessment, families often wait 6-12 months before their appointment. This can be a time of uncertainty and stress for families. For some families, other forms of assistance are not accessible and thus timely intervention opportunities are missed. There is little evidence about how to provide the best support for children or caregivers while on assessment waiting lists. Objective The aim of this study is to determine whether use of a coaching intervention called Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) combined with service navigation support is feasible for families waiting for ASD assessment, as a crucial first step in planning a randomized controlled trial. Methods A pilot and feasibility study will be conducted using recommended constructs and associated measures, which will be reported using CONSORT (Consolidated Standards or Reporting Trials) guidance. Participants will be child and caregiver dyads or triads, recruited within 4 months of their child (aged 1-7 years) being referred to one of two services for an ASD assessment in Victoria, Australia. A blinded randomization procedure will be used to allocate participants to one of three trial arms: (1) coaching and support intervention delivered face to face, (2) coaching and support intervention via videoconference, and (3) usual care. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the sample characteristics of parents and children, inclusive of service access at baseline and follow up. Recruitment rates will be reported, and retention rates will be evaluated against a predicted rate of 70%-80% in each intervention arm. Goal attainment, using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, will indicate preliminary evidence for efficacy within the intervention arms, with an increase of 2 or more points on a 10-point performance and satisfaction scale considered clinically significant. Results The study was approved by The Royal Children’s Hospital Research Ethics and Governance Department in September 2018. As of October 2020, 16 families have been recruited to the study. Data analysis is ongoing and results are expected to be published in 2021. Conclusions Study findings will support planning for a future randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of OPC and service navigation support for caregivers of children awaiting ASD assessment. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000164998; www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378793&isReview=true International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/20011
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Callander, Emily Joy, Christine Andrews, Kirstine Sketcher-Baker, Michael Christopher Nicholl, Tanya Farrell, Shae Karger, and Vicki Flenady. "Safer Baby Bundle: study protocol for the economic evaluation of a quality improvement initiative to reduce stillbirths." BMJ Open 12, no. 8 (August 2022): e058988. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058988.
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IntroductionStillbirth continues to be a public health concern in high-income countries, and with mixed results from several stillbirth prevention interventions worldwide the need for an effective prevention method is ever present. The Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) proposes five evidence-based care packages shown to reduce stillbirth when implemented individually, and therefore are anticipated to produce significantly better outcomes if grouped together. This protocol describes the planned economic evaluation of the SBB quality improvement initiative in Australia.Methods and analysisThe implementation of the SBB will occur over three state-based health jurisdictions in Australia—New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, from July 2019 onwards. The intervention is being applied at the state level, with sites opting to participate or not, and no individual woman recruitment. The economic evaluation will be based on a whole-of-population linked administrative dataset, which will include the data of all mothers, and their resultant children, who gave birth between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2023 in these states, covering the preimplementation and postimplementation time period. The primary health outcome for this economic evaluation is late gestation stillbirths, with the secondary outcomes including but not limited to neonatal death, gestation at birth, mode of birth, admission to special care nursery and neonatal intensive care unit, and physical and mental health conditions for mother and child. Costs associated with all healthcare use from birth to 5 years post partum will be included for all women and children. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be undertaken using a difference-in-difference analysis approach to compare the primary outcome (late gestation stillbirth) and total costs for women before and after the implementation of the bundle.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for the SBB project was provided by the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HREC/2019/QRBW/47709). Approval for the extraction of data to be used for the economic evaluation was granted by the New South Wales Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee (approval number: 2020/ETH00684/2020.11), Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: EO2020/4/1167), and Public Health Approval (approval number: PHA 20.00684) was also granted. Dissemination will occur via publication in peer reviewed journals, presentation at clinical and policy-focused conferences and meetings, and through the authors’ clinical and policy networks.This study will provide evidence around the cost effectiveness of a quality improvement initiative to prevent stillbirth, identifying the impact on health service use during pregnancy and long-term health service use of children.
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Mitchell, Brian. "Preventative Child Welfare Services in Victoria." Children Australia 13, no. 1 (1988): 10–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0312897000001752.
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The idea of prevention in child welfare is not new. The prevention of substitute placement of children whether on a temporary or long-term basis has been a fundamental principle of child welfare we have held to for many years in Victoria.However, it is only in the last decade that this principle is actually being carried out in practice by a number of voluntary agencies. For many children placement is still commonly used as a solution it is easier to place a child than to promote change within many multi-deficit families.
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Muller, Andreas, Hien T. Vu, John G. Ferraro, Jill E. Keeffe, and Hugh R. Taylor. "Utilization of eye care services in Victoria." Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 34, no. 5 (July 2006): 445–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9071.2006.01234.x.
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Reiger, Kerreen. "FROM TENDER CARE TO TENDERED CARE: THE CASE OF THE VICTORIAN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICE." Australian Journal of Social Issues 36, no. 4 (November 2001): 333–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1839-4655.2001.tb01106.x.
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Grace, Debra, and Aron O’Cass. "Child care services." European Journal of Marketing 37, no. 1/2 (February 2003): 107–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03090560310453993.
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CLEMENTS, D. A., and A. SHERRY. "DAY CARE IN VICTORIA." Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 29, no. 1 (February 1993): 71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.1993.tb00447.x.
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Klein, Harald. "Reforming Primary Care in Victoria: Will Primary Care Partnerships Do the Job?" Australian Journal of Primary Health 8, no. 1 (2002): 23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py02004.
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Spiralling medical costs and escalating demand for health services are putting primary care reform firmly on the agenda for governments around the world. A more coordinated and prevention-oriented approach must be adopted now to avoid a looming crisis in health care. In Victoria, the Primary Care Partnership (PCP) Strategy aims to improve health outcomes and better manage the demand for services by functionally integrating health and community support services. This paper provides an overview of the key factors that have shaped primary care reform in the State of Victoria; the logic of the PCP Strategy; a summary of the results of the strategy after 18 months; and a critical assessment of the key challenges for the strategy in the future. The paper concludes that the strategy has already led to much stronger collaboration between agencies, more integrated service planning and emerging models for service coordination. For these achievements to translate to improved health outcomes, the systems changes being initiated by PCPs need to be translated into the way services are provided in the community. This cannot be achieved by collaboration between service providers alone. It is now time for all relevant parts of government to support PCP objectives and initiatives in the way they plan and fund services.
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Martin-Kerry, Jacqueline M., Martin Whelan, John Rogers, Anil Raichur, Deborah Cole, and Andrea M. de Silva. "Addressing disparities in oral disease in Aboriginal people in Victoria: where to focus preventive programs." Australian Journal of Primary Health 25, no. 4 (2019): 317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py18100.
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The aim of this study is to determine where Aboriginal people living in Victoria attend public oral health services; whether they access Aboriginal-specific or mainstream services; and the gap between dental caries (tooth decay) experience in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Analysis was undertaken on routinely collected clinical data for Aboriginal patients attending Victorian public oral health services and the distribution of Aboriginal population across Victoria. Approximately 27% of Aboriginal people attended public oral health services in Victoria across a 2-year period, with approximately one in five of those accessing care at Aboriginal-specific clinics. In regional Victoria, 6-year-old Aboriginal children had significantly higher levels of dental caries than 6-year-old non-Aboriginal children. There was no significant difference in other age groups. This study is the first to report where Aboriginal people access public oral health care in Victoria and the disparity in disease between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal users of the Victorian public oral healthcare system. Aboriginal people largely accessed mainstream public oral healthcare clinics highlighting the importance for culturally appropriate services and prevention programs to be provided across the entire public oral healthcare system. The findings will guide development of policy and models of care aimed at improving the oral health of Aboriginal people living in Victoria.
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McCann, Warren. "Redeveloping Primary Health and Community Support Services in Victoria." Australian Journal of Primary Health 6, no. 4 (2000): 36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py00032.
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Why Primary Care Reforms?: It gives me very great pleasure to have been asked to speak at this major international Conference about redeveloping primary health and community support services in Victoria. While opening the Conference, the Victorian Minister for Health, the Honourable John Thwaites, launched the Primary Care Partnership Strategy which is one of the most ambitious and far reaching primary health and community support reform agendas in Australia.
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Bryson, Lois. "Talk to Residential Child Care Seminar – November 1984." Children Australia 9, no. 4 (1985): 23–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0312897000007505.
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Breman, Rachel, Ann MacRae, and Dave Vicary. "Child-Perpetrated Family Violence in Kinship Care in Victoria." Children Australia 43, no. 3 (June 26, 2018): 192–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cha.2018.28.
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There is growing evidence to support our understanding of adolescent violence in the home, however, there is a paucity of research about child-perpetrated violence that occurs within the context of kinship care. In 2017, Baptcare commenced research with 101 kinship carers in Victoria to gain a better understanding of how family violence was impacting on children and families. This research included a focus on child-perpetrated violence directed towards carers once the kinship placement commenced. In this context, family violence means any act of physical violence, emotional/psychological violence, verbal abuse and property damage caused by the child. This study utilised an online survey and semi-structured interviews that specifically targeted kinship carers who had direct experience of family violence. Findings demonstrated the disturbing types of child-perpetrated violent and aggressive behaviours kinship carers experienced. The data indicates that incidents of violence occurred early in the placement, they occurred frequently, and carers experienced multiple acts of violence from the child. The impact of the violence on the carer's household is significant in terms of the carer's health, wellbeing and placement stability. Further, the findings highlight the transgenerational nature of family violence in the context of kinship care in Victoria. The study described in this paper is the first step in understanding and exposing this complex issue and draws attention to some of the significant issues confronting Victorian kinship families experiencing family violence. This paper will describe the approach that Baptcare is taking to address family violence in its kinship-care programs.
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De Finney, Sandrina, JN Cole Little, Hans Skott-Myhre, and Kiaras Gharabaghi. "CONVERSATIONS ON CONVERSING IN CHILD AND YOUTH CARE." International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies 3, no. 2-3 (April 16, 2012): 128. http://dx.doi.org/10.18357/ijcyfs32-3201210862.
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In the spring of 2011, we had the pleasure of participating in the 3rd Child and Youth Care (CYC) in Action Conference hosted by the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We were invited by conference chairs Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw and Jennifer White to participate in a roundtable discussion on the theme of “Conversations on Conversing in Child and Youth Care”. This theme was inspired in part by a recent posting to the CYC-Net listserv, which asked, “Why are people speaking about the field in ways I don’t understand?” Veronica and Jennifer sensed that this question – and the spirited, and at times fractious, discussion that it generated on the listserv – would provide an excellent platform for mutual learning, critique, and reflection. Thus they capitalized on the opportunity to extend a conversation that was already underway, and used the question as a departure point for our roundtable discussion. In this paper, four of us who participated in the roundtable continue this conversation, with each of us probing deeper and pushing further along the themes and ideas we discussed in Victoria. We are not so much responding to any particular questions here, but rather trying to articulate some of our critical reflections on the field as we each are experiencing it. We hope that readers might engage with some of ideas we present in this conversation on their own terms.
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McInnes, Judith A., and Joseph E. Ibrahim. "Preparation of residential aged care services for extreme hot weather in Victoria, Australia." Australian Health Review 37, no. 4 (2013): 442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah13001.
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Objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe preparations for extreme hot weather at Victorian public sector residential aged care services for the 2010−11 summer, and to examine the role of the Residential Aged Care Services Heatwave Ready Resource in this process. Method. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews of senior staff of Victorian public sector residential aged care services. Interviews were conducted at monthly intervals from November 2010 to March 2011, and data were analysed thematically. Results. All interviewees described pre-summer preparations for hot weather undertaken at the health services they represented. Staff awareness and experience, and having a heatwave plan, were reported to have facilitated heat preparedness, whereas challenges to preparations mainly concerned air conditioning. The Residential Aged Care Services Heatwave Ready Resource was used to inform heatwave plans, for staff and family education, and as an audit tool. Conclusions. An extensive and well-considered approach to minimisation of harm from extreme heat by a sample of residential aged care services is described, and the Residential Aged Care Services Heatwave Ready Resource is reported to have supported the heatwave preparedness process. What is known about the topic? Heatwaves cause illness and death and are likely to become more frequent and severe in the future. Residents of aged care services are particularly vulnerable to harm from heatwaves. The Residential Aged Care Services Heatwave Ready Resource has been developed to support staff of residential aged care services in Victoria to prepare for heatwaves. What does this paper add? This exploratory study provides insight into the types of preparations for extreme hot weather that are undertaken at Victorian residential aged care services before and during summer. What are the implications for practitioners? A combination of staff knowledge and experience, and having a heatwave plan, supported by a publication that includes educational resources and a checklist is reported to facilitate the preparedness of Victorian residential aged care services for extreme hot weather.
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Ansari, M. Z., D. Simmon s, W. G. Hart, F. Cicuttin i, N. J. Carson, N. I. A. G. Brand, M. J. Ackland, and D. J. Lang. "Preventable Hospitalisations for Diabetic Complications in Rural and Urban Victoria." Australian Journal of Primary Health 6, no. 4 (2000): 261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py00060.
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The objective of the study was to describe and explain variations in rates of hospital admissions for long-term complications of diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Victoria as an indicator of the adequacy of ambulatory care services. The Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database (VIMD), Health Insurance Commission data for 1998, Medical Labour Force Annual Survey 1998, Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas 1996 (SEIFA) and Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) were merged to determine the extent to which hospitalisation for complications of diabetes can be predicted from accessibility and utilisation of general practitioner services. The rural and urban differentials for long-term diabetic complications and their strong relationship with GP services, the degree of remoteness, lack of insurance, and Aboriginality reflect issues related to equity and access, patient and GP education, and inclination to seek care, all of which have implications for planning of primary health services in rural areas. This study describes a model for the analysis of ambulatory care sensitive conditions, and illustrates the important use of routine databases combined with other sources of information in quantifying the impact of factors related to primary care services.
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O'Connor, Margaret, and Janet Philips. "Challenges of implementing voluntary assisted dying in Victoria, Australia." International Journal of Palliative Nursing 26, no. 8 (December 2, 2020): 425–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2020.26.8.425.
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Background: Staff working in community palliative care services are accustomed to the intimate conversations that a patient being at home can engender. Being at home can provide a safe space for a patient to express difficulties, including expressing a desire for hastened death. With the implementation of voluntary assisted dying in Victoria in mid-2019, palliative care services have needed to review and adapt policies and practices to incorporate this new procedure. While it was anticipated that a small percentage of people would request access to voluntary assisted dying, in the wake of such significant change, there were numerous implications for palliative care services to consider. This paper describes both the organisational and individual changes undertaken by one community-based palliative care service, in anticipation of legalised assistance in dying. The range of responses to the issues raised are discussed, in preparation for, and in the early days of, voluntary assisted dying.
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Penney, Randy. "Hemodialysis Unit at Renfrew Victoria Hospital." Healthcare Management Forum 8, no. 2 (July 1995): 5–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0840-4704(10)60902-7.
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In June 1994, the Renfrew Victoria Hospital was selected as the first-ever recipient of the Health Care Quality Team Award in the “Small and Rural Provider” category. This award, offered by the Canadian College of Health Service Executives and 3M Health Care, was established to recognize health care organizations that have sustained measurable improvements in their network of services, and have done so through the use of a team. Renfrew Victoria Hospital's entry focused on the establishment of a hemodialysis unit for the residents of Renfrew County. This article summarizes the parameters of this award, as presented in our submission.
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Keleher, Helen, Rebecca Round, and Gay Wilson. "Report of the mid-term review of Victoria's Maternity Services Program." Australian Health Review 25, no. 4 (2002): 119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah020119.
Full textAbstract:
Substantial State Government funding has been committed in Victoria for the enhancement of maternity services. The funding is intended to improve the quality of care for women and meet consumer expectations for choice and continuity of care in maternity services. This paper reports on a mid-term review (the 'Review') of the Victorian Maternity Services Program, which was conducted by the authors on behalf of the Victorian Department of Human Services. Documentary analysis was conducted for the review, and workshops and key informant interviews were held throughout Victoria with midwives, medical staff and Department of Human Services staff. The Review found that there had been many gains as a result of the Maternity Services Program and identified directions for further development. Issues of change and facilitators of change processes in maternity services are highlighted in this article.
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Mullen, P., and J. Ogloff. "Providing mental health services to adult offenders in Victoria, Australia: Overcoming barriers." European Psychiatry 24, no. 6 (September 2009): 395–400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.07.003.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractPurposeTo illustrate the development of the interface between general and forensic mental health services in Victoria, Australia.MethodDeveloping effective cooperation between the general and forensic mental health services requires overcoming a number of barriers. The attitude of general services that antisocial behaviour was none of their business was tackled through ongoing workshops and education days over several years. The resistance to providing care to those disabled by severe personality disorders or substance abuse was reduced by presenting and promoting models of care developed in forensic community and inpatient services which prioritised these areas. The reluctance of general services to accept offenders was reduced by involving general services in court liaison clinics and in prisoner release plans. Cooperation was enhanced by the provision of risk assessments, the sharing of responsibility for troublesome patients, and a problem behaviours clinic to support general services in coping with stalkers, sex offenders and threateners.ConclusionsActive engagement with general services was promoted at the level of providing education, specialised assessments and a referral source for difficult patients. This generated a positive interface between forensic and general mental health services, which improved the quality of care delivered to mentally abnormal offenders.