Allambi Care is incredibly proud of the five staff who presented at the recent Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) Conference in Sydney.
The evidence-base in support of therapeutic models of residential care remains limited, particularly in the Australian context. A lack of consistency in the way ‘therapeutic’ care is defined has contributed to the challenges in building the evidence base. Despite this, there are examples of best practice that highlight the possibilities of therapeutic models of residential care, when they are properly funded and implemented consistently. This study aimed to identify the core practice principles that underpin Allambi Care’s therapeutic model of care. The study involved in-depth interviews with 18 Allambi Care staff members at different leadership levels across the organisation. A service model was developed through thematic analysis and iterative discussions with a governance group comprised of members of Allambi Care’s leadership team. Results indicate that the service model is grounded in a shared culture that prioritises the importance of relational practice, leadership and a culture of learning and growth. At the centre of Allambi Care’s practice is a focus on the needs of children and their families. Six practice principles were identified, all grounded in a unique trauma-informed needs assessment framework – the Needs-Based Restorative Framework – that focuses on each child’s traumagenic, universal and individual needs. A case study that highlights how these service principles operate in practice will be presented to give life to the model. The presentation will conclude with a brief discussion of the barriers that service providers like Allambi Care experience in implementing and delivering therapeutic models of care, and suggestions for ways that these barriers can be mitigated.
Working towards improved outcomes for vulnerable young parents and their babies
The transition to parenthood, particularly among at-risk young parents, represents a crucial stage in the life course, impacting not only the immediate well-being of the young parents but also the developmental outcomes of their children. Perinatal parenting programs, specifically targeted to support these vulnerable populations, is a vital resource to promote improved outcomes for vulnerable parents and their babies.
Many young people with experience of out-of-home care have complex histories of trauma and neglect and generally poorer health, education and employment outcomes than their peers. They are also more likely to become parents at a young age and to have their children enter the child protection system or be taken into care. Although there is limited research about the needs and outcomes of young parents with a care experience, there is evidence to suggest that trauma-informed and therapeutic models of support can lead to better outcomes. New South Wales government data indicated that care leavers are ten times more likely to have their children placed in care than the general population.
The Secure Connections perinatal program has been developed in response to this identified gap in current service delivery. The program was designed by the Allambi Care Social Work team to empower and assist at-risk young parents to improve their parenting capacity and gain the knowledge and skills needed to support their baby’s care, developmental and attachment needs. Secure Connections aims to support family preservation and prevent babies entering care.
“If you don’t get the first three years right, you will be practicing the remedy of parenting for decades.” – Garbor Mate. By investing in timely perinatal support, we can help young mothers navigate the challenges they face and provide the best possible care for their children; - thus investing in improved developmental and mental health outcomes for future generations.
Enhancing education for vulnerable youth through innovating settings
The presentation explored two innovative education spaces, the Allambi Care Learning Centre and North Academy. Both settings prioritise strengths-based and trauma-informed practices to create inclusive educational environments utilising the North Education Model (formerly known as Learning Without Walls). The model recognises the impact of trauma, developmental conditions, and mental health on learning. Doing school differently is in their DNA and is a driving force behind the initiatives.
The Allambi Care Learning Centre, with its 17-year history, offers programs such as distance education facilitation, project-based learning, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional support. North Academy, a new initiative, extends this model to support vulnerable youth in an independent school setting at West Wallsend. Both spaces operate under the North Education Model, emphasising trauma-informed principles and providing a unique blend of education and therapeutic wellbeing support.
Howard Bath
My presentation was on the ‘Unexpected re-emergence of residential care in Australia’. Using data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, I tracked the usage of residential care over the past three decades and in particular the last few years, for Australia as a whole and for NSW.
Despite the explicit goal of all State Child Welfare departments to substantially reduce residential care, I demonstrated that, in fact, the opposite has happened and that this trend is actually accelerating.
The focus of the discussion was on the futility of arbitrarily reducing residential care when it is clear that there is a strong and growing demand. Cutting down on residential care may lead to cost savings, but it does nothing to address the continuing need of the young people who haven’t gone away. In the absence of high quality residential options, young people are being placed in Motels and at campgrounds without adequate supervision and support. The most recent report from the Children’s guardian tells us that on 30 June last year, the standard data collecting, point, there were 500 children in NSW temporary ACA’s.
I also discussed some of the problems and challenges in residential care today, some of which are a result of the various Departments running down provision. There are others problems with our reliance on very small group units which is at variance with most other developed countries.