Child Abuse and Neglect program returns October 9
September 2, 2006A Rural Health Education Foundation program which increases the ability of GPs to help children at risk of child abuse and neglect, returns for an encore screening on Tuesday 9 October.
Child Abuse and Neglect: Identifying and Assisting Children at Risk will air on the Foundation’s satellite network at 8pm (EST) on Tuesday 9 October and again at 12.30pm (EST) on Friday 12 October 2006.
Specifically designed for GPs, nurses, Aboriginal health workers and allied healthcare professionals, the program is sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Panellists include Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report, ABC Radio National, as the Chair, with community paediatrician Dr Sue Packer, psychologist & social worker Dr Joe Tucci - CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, and child protection consultant Dr Bronwyn Gould.
The program is also available for purchase on DVD or VHS video, is viewable online via video webstreaming and is downloadable as an audio podcast.
Top problem affecting the health of children
Child abuse and neglect is the top problem affecting the health and well-being of Australian children. According to the Kids First Foundation, one in 170 Australian children under nine years of age is a proven victim of abuse and neglect, and the number of children reported abused and neglected in Australia has more than doubled in 6 years years from 107,134 in 1999-2000 to 252,831 in 2004-2005 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006).
While this may indicate increased reporting, the fact remains that many more children suffering from abuse and neglect are not identified or reported, some with fatal consequences.
The confidence to make a judgement
According to program panellist Dr Sue Packer, the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) ACT President, health professionals “are one of the few informed people who regularly see families in some position to form an opinion on whether or not a child is safe and well cared for or whether there are concerns about the child’s well-being.”
Dr Packer, who has been a paediatrician at the Child At Risk Assessment Unit in Canberra Hospital for 16 years, says that one of the problems is that some health professionals may not have enough confidence to make a judgement.
This program aims to provide information and insight to assist GPs, nurses, Aboriginal health workers and allied health workers in order to trust themselves with the key question posed by Dr Sue Packer: “Looking at the child, am I confident sending this child home? Is it safe?”
A potent pathogen for future ill health
Program panellist and child protection consultant Dr Bronwyn Gould, Chair of the Australian Council for Children and Parenting, says “Adverse child abuse is a potent pathogen for future ill health - not just mental health, but also physical health, general wellbeing, and partner choices. Anything that you do to prevent child maltreatment improves a whole lot of variables in the community, such as prevention of crime, alcoholism, etc.”
According to Dr Gould, who sits on the NSW Ombudsman’s Reviewable Death Advisory, fatalities are just the tip of the iceberg.
Health workers well situated to take preventive action
On a more positive note, health workers are well situated to take preventive action and make early intervention.
Dr Packer believes “If we are really waiting until we think there really is abuse, it might be too late. We need to be proactive.”
And Dr Gould emphasises that “GPs and other health workers could be satellites to do fabulous community work.”
Child abuse and neglect resources
Child Abuse and Neglect: Identifying and Assisting Children at Risk provides health professionals with various approaches and resources available to assist families, as well as the details of organisations that should be contacted to make a notification or with whom concerns about a child’s welfare can be discussed.
