Policy Breakfast Forum

This month the Centre hosted a policy breakfast forum to discuss New directions in policy and planning for residential care.

A group of community organisation leaders, policy makers and MPs heard presentations from a panel comprising Professor Anglin, Gill Callister (DHS), Audra McHugh (CREATE), Dr Darryl Higgins (AIFS), Murial Bamblett (VACCA), Professor Philip Mendes (Monash University) and Jason King (GEGAC).

The panel then participated in a discussion of key issues facing Victoria’s residential and wider out-of-home care system, and fielded a range of questions from the audience.

Key themes emerging from the forum included the need to apply therapeutic principles to all of residential care, with an appropriate and non-regimented framework. Also identified was the need to avoid relying on residential care as a last resort to respond to demand pressures.

The importance of understanding of the exact goals of each residential placement was highlighted, with thorough assessments made to deliver kids into an appropriate unit.

It was also clear that Victoria’s wider out-of-home care system must be driven by strong therapeutic principles, given the success of current residential and foster care programs.

Professor Anglin's slides and footage of panel presentations can be found below: