Past Practicum Projects
PeakCare offers a diverse and ever-changing array of projects to students on practicum. These are some of our past practicum projects.
Staff Attraction and Retention: ‘The Nature of the work requires it..’
‘The nature of the work requires it..’ is a response to the federal government’s National Framework for Protecting Children which argues, that while the ideals as espoused by the framework are commendable, they will not be achieved without improving the working conditions of those commissioned to bear the brunt of the reforms, that is the not-for-profit sector. The project aims to stimulate discussion and highlight the need for a strong, happy and motivated workforce in the not-for-profit sector if it is to support vulnerable children and families and circumvent tertiary child protection involvement. The project aims to narrow its focus by examining the provision of portable long service and sickness leave with the view that more attractive and sustainable working conditions will strengthen the industry and ultimately improve services offered to children and families.
Community Building Through Social Media
PeakCare will be working with Griffith practicum student, Matt Ross to look at the innovative uses of social media usage to build community and engage with stakeholders in the child and family welfare sector. Matt will be looking at current social media initiatives internationally and nationally as well as working to conceptualize how PeakCare will continue to use social media as part of our community engagement strategy.
Policy To Practice; Community Engagement and the National Child Protection Framework
PeakCare will be working with UQ practicum student Kate Hannan, to explore how the National Child Protection Framework guides us to develop strong, collaborative relationships to support the importance of prevention, early intervention and secondary supports and services as an essential part of the child protection system. She will be looking at a community development project that will allow PeakCare to establish better understanding and connection to the needs of organizations and services who may not identify child protection as their core business, but who invariably encounter vulnerable children, young people and families in their day to day practice.
Culture Matters
Culture Matters is an ongoing, three phase, research project which is examining the inter-relationship between culture and current child protection policies and practices in the Queensland non-government and government sectors.
Phase One of this project considers the intersection of child protection services and interventions with culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) children and families.
A tool has been developed for piloting, which will engage the NGO sector and the CaLD community and allow for preliminary collection of ‘evidence’ of need.
The tool will also explore cultural competency at an organisational/policy level juxtaposed against a practice level to provide a good indication of areas where NGOs can improve service provision to the CaLD community.
2009 PeakCare practicum students Kathryn Mettler, Candace Bool and Yoon Jung Oh were research assistants on this project.
The results of phase one of the project were delivered at the 2009 Multicultural Summit and the Australian Association of Social Workers Conference in Mudjimba. Click here to download the powerpoint presentation.
Click here to learn more about phase two of the Culture Matters project
GForce
GForce is a high level workgroup of the Child Protection Partnership Forum, chaired by the CREATE Foundation. It aims to increase the participation of young people in decision making, through discussions that directly influence policy and practice.
For further information contact Tim Johnston. Email contact/gwbuafgba+crnxpner.bet+nh
What Works Matters
As part of its Statement of Commitment with Reconciliation Australia under its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2010, PeakCare will promote examples of good practice in Indigenous consultation to eliminate systemic and institutionalised racism in child protection.
As part of this commitment, we have undertaken this What Works Mattersproject, which focusses on successful capacity building within Indigenous organisations and communities and the membership of PeakCare Queensland.
For further information contact Carolyn Ovens. Email: contact/pbiraf+crnxpner.bet+nh
Transition from Care
Over the past five months PeakCare and CREATE Foundation conducted a project exploring the transition form care for young people in out-of-home care.
Non-government practitioners working in the out-of-home care sector were surveyed about the transition from care support they provide to young people. Their views regarding effective approaches and challenges in working with young people to achieve a successful transition were also sought.
Across the three modes of out-of-home care provision within non-government agencies it is significantly the foster carer and residential care worker who are relied upon to prepare young people for independent living. For the most part agencies are only equipped to provide the bare minimum of service. The high likelihood of negative outcomes for young people post care indicates that this level of service does not seem sufficient. The respondents identified the following key themes impacting on effective service delivery:
- Respondents stated that positive and constructive relationships with young people and Child Safety Services staff are essential for successful transition from care outcomes.
- Limitations on human and material resources able to be devoted to young people are considered by respondents to inhibit practice.
- Working in collaboration with Child Safety Services and within their policies is highly challenging for many respondents.
- There are many elements of case work practice that respondents report contributes to successful outcomes for young people.
The report made several achievable recommendations which would strengthen transition from care support in the sector.
For further information contact Tim Johnston. Email: contact/gwbuafgba+crnxpner.bet+nh
Click here to download the report.
Child Protection In-Service Training Pilot
This project aims to strengthen existing and build new relationships across the broader child protection sector, through education, professional development and training. We will look to provide support and In-Service training to allied professionals who are providing supports and services to vulnerable children and their families in prevention, early intervention, or secondary intervention capacities.
For further information please contact:
Fiona McColl - Training and Development Manager contact/szpbyy+crnxpner.bet+nh
Student Network
The Student Network is a joint, ongoing project, that is conceptualised and managed by each cohort of practicum students.
The project uses social media to network and exchange information across the statewide social services sector.
It has been used by social work (or other sector related students) and recent graduates to discuss their education, professional development and training needs as well as other relevant topics of interest.
It has also lead to events which have been organised and run by students.
Click here to visit their Facebook page.