(NRS325 202260) Children protection assignment on addressing Children protection assignment children protection rights

Question

Task: How can Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people children rights be addressed usingChildren protection assignment research techniques?

Answer

Section One
This Children protection assignmentreviews the “National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children”, every child possesses the right to grow and develop in an environment that can fully support their potential(Australian Government, 2021). In other words, young people and children in Australia have the right to grow and develop in a connected, safe, and supportive family. In addition to that, the goal of this framework also includes making sustained and significant progress in terms of reducing rates of child neglect and abuse along with the associated intergenerational impacts. In the mentioned case study of James, there will be few professional obligations that needs to followed strictly while addressing the relevant care. The first professional obligation will be based on not judging the situation based on the sole views of James. The third principle of “The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children” identified on this Children protection assignment, makes it mandatory consider and listen to the voice of the people who cares for the children. Thus, in the mentioned Children protection assignmentcase it will be equally important to listen to the views of James’ father so that a better and decisive analysis of James’ situation can be performed. The obligation based on the third principle of the chosen framework emphasizes on not being confined to the views of children(Department for Child Protection, 2022). One of the major reasons behind this obligation mandated by the third principle is that sometimes there can be situations where the care giver or parents of the children might need help. The second obligation will be based on implementing policies that are culturally safe. The fifth principle of the chosen framework makes it mandatory to implement trauma-informed practices and policies that can prove to be immensely beneficial for children that have experienced different form of abuses. However, the main obligation based on this principle is that the implemented practices and policies must not challenge or threaten a person’s needs or identity. In the mentioned Children protection assignmentcase scenario of James, it has been observed that James’ father abuses him and this is evident from the bruises on James’ body. Thus, it has become the need of the hour to address James’ situation as he also suffers from learning disability, which is another major area of concern. In the context of analysing James’ situation and providing him care, the main obligation will be to ensure that the identity of James’ father does not get compromised as James’ father is also undergoing difficult times. As per the mentioned scenario, James’ father lost his job and he also resides in a low-socio economic area. Therefore, it is important to consider and address James’ father situation by making hi understand the consequences of child abuse. However, the main obligation in terms of implementing the child trauma policies will be to ensure that James’ father cultural identity does not get compromised.

Section Two
The Piaget’s theory of cognitive development defines the different phases of intellectual development in a normal child that starts with infancy and ends with adulthood(Mcleod, 2022). The concept of Piaget’s theory includes knowledge, judgment, and thought. According to this theory, there are four stages of cognitive development, which are sensorimotor (0-2 years old), pre-operational (2-7 years old), concrete operational (7-11 years old), and formal operational (11+ to adulthood). However, Piaget also acknowledged the fact that some children can potentially pass through the stages at different ages. On the other hand, certain children can potentially perform multiple stages at a particular age. In the mentioned Children protection assignmentcase scenario of James is 5 years old so there are several expectations associated with growth and development during this age. Some of the prominent general expectations regarding growth and development from a 5-year-old child are being able to tie shoelaces, questioning the thinking of parents along with principles, and use pencils very well. Since James is 5 years old, so he falls under the category of preoperational stage. The cognitive development during preoperational stage according to Paiget should include strong intuition and thinking, able to use proper grammar and syntax, symbolic thinking, and developed conservation(Lally& Valentine-French, 2019). However, one of the major concerns associated with James is that he suffers from learning disability and him getting abused will even worsen his growth and development prospect.

It is a well-known fact that the growth and development of any child depends upon the environment. In the Children protection assignmentcase of James, his father lost his job and they reside in a low socio-economic area. This can massively hamper the education of children as his father might not be able to bear his expenses. In addition to that, the environment in low socio-economic area is generally not favourable for learning. On the other hand, James has been facing severe abuse from his father along with eating unhealthy foods. The combination of abuse along with unhealthy diet can negatively impact both physical and mental health of James. The growth and development of any child massively relies upon both physical and mental health. It has been observed that the situation of James is a cause of major concern as his health seems to be deteriorating, which is evident from the fact that he does not look energetic or healthy that a child should be during this age. Therefore, the growth and development of James is at high risk as his entire well-being is being compromised based upon his current situation. Overall, the preoperational stage of James requires better care and guidance as he also suffers from learning disability and the abuse that he is facing would significantly hamper his growth and development.

Section Three
Health inequities refers to the differences in status of health or health resources’ distribution between various groups of population that primarily arises from social conditions where people born, age, grow, and work(World Health Organization, 2018). Thus, health inequities are considered as unfair and this can be effectively minimized based on implementing effective policies from the government. In Australia, the First Nation Children and their families faces significant health inequity due to several factors. The first major factor that promotes health inequity among the First Nation children and their families is distance. It has been observed that distance plays a vital role in terms of determining access to healthcare facilities along with the associated health outcome. The First Nation people in Australia are mostly confined to the remote areas or economically backward areas where they face lack of healthcare facilities and awareness. In any society, creating health awareness among the people plays a vital role in terms of ensuring that heath inequity is minimized. However, the First Nation children and their families living in Australia are deprived of proper healthcare facilities due to distance. The second major factor identified on this Children protection assignment that promotes health inequity is poverty. It is a well-known fact that poverty significantly determines access to healthcare facilities and the associated health outcome. Thus, in the context of First Nation Children and their families where poverty is a major issue, health inequity is massive as compared to sections of the population residing in urban areas.

The third major factor that potentially leads to health inequity on the First Nations Children and their families is discrimination. The First Nation Children and their families in Australia have been suffering from racial discrimination and this is leading them to suffer from depression and anxiety. In addition to that, depression also leads them to get indulged in substance abuse. Therefore, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020) aims to reduce the health inequity based on implementing several measures that can benefit the First Nation people(Closing the Gap AU, 2020). The parties involved in this agreement aims at improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One of the primary outcomes that this agreement wishes to achieve is that the First Nation Children are born strong and healthy. In addition to that, this agreement also aims to remove poverty among the First Nation people, which will ensure that the First Nation children does not suffer from health inequity. Overall, health inequity is a major cause of concern among the First Nation children and their families in Australia, so governments across Australia are implementing measures that can prove to be immensely effective in terms of reducing the health inequity.

Section Four
After gaining all the learning from the mentioned Children protection assignmentcase study of James, I can implement several measures that can effectively support a co-worker or an interdisciplinary team’s member if he or she faces a similar situation. The first measure that I would implement for supporting will be based on telling my co-worker to individually analyse the situation of the child and his father. It will be crucial to perform a separate analysis of the child as this can potentially help in finding out the potentially hidden trauma that the child might be facing. It has been learnt that a collaborative analysis can reduce the effectiveness of the care program because the child might hesitate to reveal everything in front of the father due to fear of being further abused at home. On the other hand, individual analysis of the father can help in gaining a better understanding of the father’s mental state who lost his job and is living in poverty. In addition to that, the father can also open up more during individual assessment as compared to an environment where he has to speak in front of his child. The second measure that I would implement in terms of helping my co-worker will be based on advising him or her to ensure that trauma-care practices or policies maintains full confidentiality. It is a well-known fact that trauma-care policies or practices requires certain steps that can lead to an individual face wrath of the society. In addition to that, “The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 – 2031” makes it mandatory to ensure that identity of an individual involved in child abuse or trauma does not get compromised.

The third measure that I would implement in terms of helping my co-worker to deal with a similar situation will be to act according to the growth and development stage of a child. Thus, analysing the child’s stage based on Piaget’s theory can prove to be highly effective as it will also ensure to segment the age of the child based on his abilities. Since in the mentionedChildren protection assignment case study, James suffers from learning disability so it will be important to analyse the aspects where the child is lacking in terms of learning and this step can be performed effectively by comparing the child with children of the same age group. Lastly, the fourth measure that I would implement will be based on advising my co-worker to consider the “National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020)” as it can effectively help in taking steps that are specifically planned for ensuring a better and healthy life for First Nation children and their families. Overall, a situation of similar type as James can be highly sensitive as the entire future of a child is at stake. Therefore this Children protection assignment recommends that proper and calculated measures need to be taken in such sensitive issues.

References
Australian Government. (2021). The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 2031 | Department of Social Services, Australian Government. Children protection assignment Www.dss.gov.au. https://www.dss.gov.au/the-national-framework-for-protecting-australias-children-2021-203
Closing the Gap AU. (2020). National Agreement on Closing the Gap | Closing The Gap. Www.closingthegap.gov.au. https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement
Department for Child Protection. (2022, April 28). National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021 to 2031. Department for Child Protection. https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/child-protection-initiatives/national-framework-for-protecting-australias-children
Lally, M., & Valentine-French, S. (2019). Piaget’s Preoperational Stage of Cognitive Development | Lifespan Development. Lumenlearning.com. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-lifespandevelopment/chapter/piagets-preoperational-stage-of-cognitive-development/
Mcleod, S. (2022). [Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive DevelopmentChildren protection assignment]. Www.simplypsychology.org, 1(1). https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html#:~:text=Piaget%20divided%20children World Health Organization. (2018, February 22). Health inequities and their causes.Children protection assignment Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/health-inequities-and-their-causes