Advocacy

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Advocacy

Since our formation in 1877 Berry Street has had a commitment not just to the provision of social services but to social change. This commitment is reflected in our 2027 Strategic Directions through which we aim to make a long term impact on the underlying causes of child abuse, child neglect and family violence.

We understand that the underlying causes include, inequality, poverty, unemployment, unresolved trauma (which may be intergenerational), homelessness and substance misuse. We know that these underlying causes are interconnected, complex and manifest themselves in complex ways including in behaviours amongst children, young people and adults that are harmful to them and those around them.

We know that there are responses which can help alleviate the symptoms and support people to cope, heal and return to good health. But we also want to prevent the harm from occurring in the first place. But we also want to prevent the harm from occurring in the first place. Read more >>

Public Policy and Advocacy Agenda

Our public policy and advocacy agenda covers five broad areas. They reflect the breadth of our direct work with children and families and a need to tackle complex social and economic policy issues at the highest level. They span issues relating to childhood, children’s rights, family poverty, homelessness, education, violence, the negative consequences of colonisation on Aboriginal families, child abuse and child neglect. They are as follows:

Childhood Belongs to Children

Safety is not enough

Two Ways Together – Supporting Aboriginal Families and Children

Fairness & Equity for Families

No Place for Violence

Spotlight - Inquiry into Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children

Berry Street welcomes the Inquiry set up by the Victorian Government to inquire into and develop recommendations about how to reduce the incidence and negative impact of child abuse and neglect in Victoria. We feel this is a once in a generation opportunity to put in place the social infrastructure to ensure that all children have a good childhood, growing up feeling safe, nurtured and with hope for the future. We thought that hearing directly from children, foster carers and our staff about what is working well and what needs to change is the most powerful way to frame our submission. We are most grateful to them for sharing their experiences.

The Panel are conducting a number of public hearings, with its report expected in November 2011. We will be advocating strongly for the recommendations contained in our submission and for the Government to commit to the changes and resources required to enable these recommendations to be achieved.

No interview material, quotes or case studies included in this report may be published, copied or in any way reproduced without the express written permission of Berry Street.

In addition to this submission, Berry Street has joined with Anglicare Victoria, MacKillop Family Services, Salvation Army, VACCA and the Centre for Excellence to put in a joint submission about the key reforms that are required.

Take Two, together with our Partners, La Trobe University, Mindful and VACCA, have developed a separate submission, focussing on the need for, and value of, a therapeutic approach to helping children and young people recover from abuse and neglect.

We also held consultations at Open Place with a group of Forgotten Australians about what they felt needs to change through.

Given Berry Street’s determination that all children have a good childhood, we are pleased to support a recently launched project of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. The Nest is an independent project to improve the health, wellbeing and life opportunities of all young Australians (0 – 24 years). The project is a practical response to evidence that Australia could be doing more to advance the wellbeing of children and young people.

The Nest will focus Australia’s efforts on a national plan for coordinated action. It will highlight the best evidence to show what works, and invite children, young people and the community to join in a conversation about their hopes and aspirations. Berry Street will engage with the Nest in this discussion and will be encouraging the children and young people in our programs to participate.

Between March and August The Nest is interested in talking with:

children and young people (up to 24 years of age)
parents, carers, grandparents, and other family members
people who work with children and young people
people with an interest in shaping the best possible future for children and youth.

You can contribute by visiting The Nest and doing an online survey, commenting on their blog, visiting The Nest Facebook page or commenting on Twitter.