Child Abuse and Neglect: Identifying and Assisting Children at Risk
Duration: 90 minutes
Program ID: 615 | Purchase Price: $105.00 (DVD)
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 from 107,134 in 1999-2000 to 252,831 in 2004-2005 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006).
The number is significantly higher among rural and remote areas, including among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many children at risk have come in contact with health services without being identified and assisted, some with fatal consequences. General practitioners, nurses, and allied health workers are in the best position to see families regularly and assist children at risk. Thus, they need to be aware of, be able to identify, and be able to take appropriate measures.
This program alerts health practitioners to the high prevalence of abuse and neglect among children who may be coming for other healthcare treatments. The program aims to facilitate health professionals in identifying children at risk for abuse and neglect and discusses issues on how to handle concerns and issues around notification, particularly in the rural setting.
Program Presenters
- Chair: Dr Norman Swan - Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National
- Dr Bronwyn Gould - AM, General practitioner, child protection consultant, Chair of the Australian Council for Children and Parenting, and member of the NSW Ombudsman
- Dr Sue Packer - AM, Community Paediatrician, Child At Risk Assessment Unit, Canberra Hospital, and ACT President of the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).
- Dr Geoff Stewart - Senior Medical Officer, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT)
- Ms Bonnie Trevanion - Queensland State Coordinator of Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA)
- Dr Joe Tucci - Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Childhood Foundation.
Learning Outcomes
- Be more alert to child abuse and neglect as a prevalent and serious health and welfare concern.
- Increase their skill in identifying children at risk and potential cases of child abuse and neglect.
- Understand the principles of notification and mandatory reporting.
- Learn about various potential solutions to assist children at risk.
Funding Bodies
Accreditation
This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
