All Australian statutory child welfare agencies collect and report data on children under their supervision, but it is not always clear from this data how many children are actually placed in out-of-home care. This paper reports on a survey of the eight state and territory statutory agencies which focused on comparative placement rates, the usage of the two major types of out-of-home care, and placement patterns for Aboriginal/TSI children. Comparisons are drawn with the USA and a number of European countries.

This is the second of two articles examining the establishment of Family Decision Making in Victoria. The first ‘Family Group Conferences – Part One: Australia's first Project in Child Protection’ was presented in the previous edition of Children Australia. This article builds upon the first by presenting an overview of the evaluation of the Victorian Family Decision Making Project, and pointing to practice and other implications of the development of this Project for child welfare services generally.

Before entering into discussion of the substantive topic, it should be said that Australian Family Law is, in one sense at least, always new. It is without question one of the most scrutinised areas of Australian Law: the Family Law Act 1975 has been amended no less than thirty four times since its coming into force in February 1976, sometimes extensively; it has been the subject of two reports of Joint Select Committees of the Australian Parliament, in 1980 (Bates, 1980) and 1992 (below). In addition, its operation and administration is under continual scrutiny from two statutory bodies – the Family Law Council (Family Law Act 1975 s115) and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (Family Law Act 1975 Part XIVB).

This article cites the international research evidence that supports family centred group care practice. A working definition, the key assumption and an orientation to group care and family work compatible with family centred group care practice is then articulated. This is followed by a set of practice guidelines and identification of the key characteristics of family centred group care agencies.

Young people in care need assistance to develop the skills and support networks necessary for successful independence. The Transition from Care Program was developed by the Department of Family Services and Islander Affairs in Queensland to meet this need. The authors describe this program and provide the details of a study conducted to compare the social circumstances, over time, of a group of young people who participated in the program. It was found that the young people became progressively better prepared for independence over the period of the study.

In order to improve attempts at the prevention of child abuse, a large scale program to change community attitudes and behaviours is required. An approach based on the Yale model of persuasion is described. The particular messages to be promoted are discussed with an emphasis on positive rather than punitive messages. Alternatives to officialdom for making contact and for delivery of assistance to carers under stress are seen as desirable, including additional programs at local neighbourhood level. A series of recommendations which reflect principles known to be effective in changing attitudes and behaviour is made.

This paper was presented at a seminar on ending the physical punishment of children, held in Melbourne in September, 1994.

This is the second part of an interview with a manager in a British Social Services Department; the first part appeared in Children Australia, vol. 19, no. 3.