Child protection experts reflect on practice

Tuesday, 25 October 2016
 
Page Content

• Signs of Safety Gathering attracts international experts to Perth
• WA leading the nation in its Signs of Safety approach to child protection practice

Western Australia will host child protection experts from around the world this week to share ways on how to improve life outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

Child Protection Minister Andrea Mitchell said the Signs of Safety Gathering provided the opportunity for child protection workers to learn, grow and celebrate their experiences.

"This year marks the eighth year since the State Government began implementing Signs of Safety, which provides the tools child protection practitioners need to help vulnerable families address their child abuse and neglect issues," Ms Mitchell said.

"To continue to achieve the best possible life outcome for these families, we must constantly review the way in which we are using these tools so that our work is purposeful and meaningful for children and families."

The Signs of Safety Gathering is held every second year and this is the fourth year Western Australia has played host to the conference.

This year's Gathering theme, 'Reflect, Reboot, Renew', will include interstate and international presentations from Tasmania, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Canada.

The event provides the ideal platform to collectively learn and grow from each other's experience at a national and international level. 

Fact File

• The Signs of Safety framework was originally developed in Western Australia and is now used in more than 100 jurisdictions and 17 countries around the world