Children and young people in care will soon have a greater understanding about the dangers of the online world, sexual safety and respectful relationships thanks to a state-first program being rolled out across residential care homes in South Australia.
The Marshall Liberal Government has invested more than $500,000 to train up to 1000 residential staff in the Power to Kids: Respecting Sexual Safety program being delivered by MacKillop Family Services.
Power to Kids aims to upskill residential care staff to help increase young people’s understanding and awareness of respectful relationships, grooming behaviour and sexual exploitation, as well as providing knowledge about when and how to reach out for support.
Minister for Child Protection Rachel Sanderson welcomed the additional support for our most vulnerable children and young people.
“Cyber safety is a world-wide issue and that’s why we’re investing in new measures like Power to Kids to help deter our most vulnerable children and young people from risky online behaviours, as well as educate them about sexual safety,” said Minister Sanderson.
“The program will give our residential care staff the confidence to have brave conservations with our young people and give them the skills to prevent, identify and intervene when they notice indicators of abuse.
“There’s no doubt advances in technology continue to present new risks to our privacy and security. Spam, scams, identity theft, fraud, and predatory behaviour are just some of the issues we – and all children and young people – face when we use devices.
“This new, innovative program which will give staff additional tools and strategies to recognise when a young person is becoming the target of harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence.”
MacKillop Family Services CEO Dr Robyn Miller said: “We know many of our young people in residential care have experienced horrific family violence, abuse and neglect, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation, and that many carers have not been equipped with the skills to identify and respond effectively.”
Power to Kids also focuses on assisting staff to determine when to access key professionals and agencies, such as SA Police, to initiate a broader response.
The program was piloted in four MacKillop Family Services residential care homes in Victoria and results showed the children and young people experienced increased protection against harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence.
The results also showed young people were missing from home less often.
The program has been evaluated by the University of Melbourne and successfully piloted in Victoria over three years.
Power to Kids aligns with the Marshall Liberal Government’s $600,000 investment to roll out – a new trauma-informed therapeutic model of care which aims to better support, empower and engage children and young people in residential care.
Additional measures to support children and young people in care include:
- Working with our non-government partners to ensure cyber-safety policies are in place
- Reviewing and updating of policies and procedures relating to the use of mobile phones and social media in residential care homes
- Working across governments to support the design and implementation of Australia’s first ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse which will focus on preventing child sexual abuse in all settings including in institutions, within families, and online
- Funding and hiring a Lead Psychiatric Director (Prue McEvoy) who works directly with our most complex children and young people to help them through their traumatic experiences
- Introducing Complex Case Review Meetings, which brings together people from the child’s care team and other relevant parties to discuss a shared plan, taking into account the child’s trauma history and individual needs
- Funding and implementing the Sanctuary model of residential care, which provides a trauma-informed approach to practice that seeks to create safe environments for children and young people as well as staff
- Funding a new pilot program, Breathing Space, that is specifically targeting/helping vulnerable young girls in care who are at risk of, or who are pregnant.
- Funding the Guardian for Children and Young People Penny Wright – and her office – almost $2 million per annum. In her role, the Guardian can continue to visit all residential care facilities in the state and advocate for children and young people in care.
- Establishing a therapeutic care support team with 10 new allied health professionals.
