Robin Sullivan provides insight into her career-long devotion to the education, care and protection of children, and discusses how we must always keep inclusion and support uppermost in our minds.
When I reflect on all of my achievements, the image that connects them all is that of children. As a teacher, Commissioner for Children and Young People and now Director-General of the Department of Child Safety, my concern and interest has always been for children.
Of course, I would not claim—nor would I want to—that my enthusiasm for children is limited to the professional. Over the past two years, we have welcomed three grandchildren into our family and, while these little people are a constant source of delight to a proud grandparent, they are also a personal reminder of my work to improve the lives and opportunities of all children.
Having grandchildren has certainly refreshed my understanding of the importance of the early years. I have long been a strong advocate for initiatives which promote the early years as central in establishing healthy foundations for life. My current focus as Director-General of the Department of Child Safety is the impact of child abuse and neglect on children. How can we protect and care for children without considering the importance of inclusion and support?
At times I am concerned that we may overlook some forms of harm by placing most of our attention on the shock of sexual abuse. When we consider the impact of harm—not only to our children but also our families and communities—we must always bear in mind the influence of neglect, as well as physical and emotional abuse.
In our department the importance of the early years is acknowledged in our practice, and our case plans for children under the age of three are reviewed every three months. This reflects how much children grow and develop during those years and how quickly their needs change.
Another of our initiatives is the Referral for Active Intervention, which aims to support families with children from birth to eight years before they enter the child protection system. This is one way we can support families and communities to enhance the skills and resources they need to meet the challenging job of nurturing children.
As Director-General I hold the privilege and responsibility of being guardian for children in care in Queensland. As guardian, I am focused on their rights and opportunities, and am concerned with how children in care are supported and included within their own communities. It is my aspiration that they should be permitted to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as every child in Queensland.
To ensure that children in care have the best possible start in life, we have established education support plans to meet their individual learning and development needs. With health colleagues we have also developed the Child Health Passport to make certain that all children who enter care have their individual health needs assessed and met.
Some children—for example, those with disabilities—need even more encouragement to ensure they meet their potential. I find it staggering that some studies suggest children with disabilities may be several times more likely to be at risk of abuse and neglect.
To support children with disabilities and others with complex and extreme needs, we have worked with Education Queensland, Queensland Health and Disability Services Queensland to establish teams to deliver therapeutic and behaviour support services across the state.
The success of these initiatives brings me to one of my passions: engaging the community in addressing harm. I believe that it is only through a collective effort that we can truly and meaningfully address the needs of children at risk of harm and make a lasting difference in the lives of children, families and communities.
One of Queensland’s enduring and most-damaging legacies is the over-representation of Indigenous children in the child protection system. As Government Champion of the Indigenous community of Cherbourg, it has been my privilege to be part of their response to the harm experienced by their children. The strong and inspirational women of Cherbourg were not prepared to condone child abuse in their community, and their passion and energy has inspired the men to come on board. It is one example of an Indigenous community addressing issues of child protection and making a difference.
My thoughts turn to the timeless adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I also believe it takes a child to raise a community, and I constantly marvel at how vulnerable children can be a rallying point for communities to come together and make a difference.
Robin Sullivan
Director-General
Queensland Department of Child Safety
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