ACWA tackles coercive control and the future of foster caring at Strategy to Action Day
The impact DFV has on children, and the future of foster caring were the two main topics for discussion at ACWA’s mid-year Strategy to Action Day on August 1.
Over 150 members and guests participated either in person or online, hearing from notable speakers including researchers Amy Watson and Sophie Gillfeather-Spetere from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) and Simon ‘The Stats Guy’ Kuestenmacher, Director of Melbourne-based The Demographics Group.
To demonstrate evidence on children’s and young people’s experiences of DFV, ANROWS shared findings from their research synthesis project, which analysed over 20 research reports dating from 2016 to 2024 and cumulatively resulted in over 80 recommendations.
Starting with the sobering figure that 39.6% of adults have experienced childhood domestic and family violence, the data continued to demonstrate the pervasiveness of DFV in Australia.
A second presentation included a spotlight on the Safe & Together Model and other collective practice frameworks, to explore the advantages of embedding these into practice.
Throughout the morning presentations, ANROWS presenters posed regular questions to both in person and virtual guests, which allowed practitioners from all ends of the spectrum to share insights and reflections, voice concerns of what their clients are experiencing and discuss possible solutions as a group.
The OOHC session began with a presentation by leading Australian demographer and data scientist, Simon Kuestenmacher (aka ‘The Stats Guy’), on his demographic analysis of potential foster carers in NSW over the next 10 years.
Using clear data about the increase in women’s workforce participation, spiralling cost of living and housing pressures, the delay in having children, the ‘sandwiching’ of (largely) women in their 50s between caring for elderly parents and assisting their own children with childcare, and changes in societal attitudes more broadly, Simon’s presentation painted a stark picture of a rapidly shrinking pool of people with either the capacity and potential inclination to become foster carers.
Simon’s highly entertaining delivery contained a serious message about the need for policy makers and service providers to think very differently about who we need to be targeting with our foster carer recruitment strategies, how we tap into their motivations and support their needs.
After morning tea, a panel of state peak leaders featuring Tom Allsop, CEO of PeakCare Queensland, Dr Lisa Griffiths, Chair of Centre for Excellence in Child & Family Welfare in Victoria, Melissa Gibson, CEO, Child and Family Focus SA and Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia, gathered to discuss the different approaches being taken around Australia in response to the broader challenges facing OOHC and the declining foster carer trend, as well as emerging advocacy at a national level. More information on these initiatives can be found here: https://cfc-sa.org.au/carer-council/ and https://familiesaustralia.org.au/conferences-training-external-providers/
The afternoon group workshop session was facilitated by ANROWS to explore the effects and impact Coercive Control has on children and young people, by extracting knowledge from DFV workers on the ground. The groups were given four thought-provoking and in-depth conversation starters, centering on identifying priorities and bolstering evidence with lived experience insights.
ACWA is planning to host future online group discussions on both topics to extend participation to all our regional members. Watch this space for further information or sign up to our regular newsletter.
RESOURCES
The Demographics Group NSW Outlook Data Report
The Demographics Group Narrative Summary
Foster Carer Demographic Report Highlights
Recordings of the OOHC sessions can be found here:
Simon Kuestenmacher presents a NSW Foster Carer Demographic Outlook
State Peaks’ Panel Discussion on Jurisdictional Approaches to Foster Care Challenges
ANROWS Facilitated Group Discussion – Coercive Control and its impact on children and families
