Hidden child protection: young people at risk. Causes and prevention

Abstract

The decrease in traditional forms of support provided by extended family, friends and neighbours has resulted in an increased demand for external support from social welfare and other agencies for families and communities. A current trend in Australia is one where families must present with significant issues in order to be prioritised for assistance, effecting the availability and adequacy of services to a significant number of parents and families who could have benefited from early intervention and prevention programs (Tomison, 2002).

Centrelink is effectively a ‘first to know’ agency for a large number of young people who find themselves homeless following family breakdown. The Prime Minister’s Youth Homeless Taskforce (DFaCS 1999) and other research has identified this as a critical period for early intervention and prevention (Healy and Richmond, 1999). This paper explores the nature of families in Australia today and factors leading to ‘extreme family breakdown’. The main focus is an exploration of the factors contributing to the extreme family breakdown of some families in the Twin Cities region where a 15 to 17 year old adolescent is currently receiving the ‘Unreasonable to Live at Home’ rate of Youth Allowance. In addition, the current early intervention and prevention programs available to families will be explored based on information gained through in-depth interviews with professionals working with young people and families in the Twin Cities.