Protecting our children
Child protection services in the region
We have a number of child protection services operating across our region, including:
You might also like to visit the following websites for more information on child protection:
Raising Children
An Australian parenting website with practical child health and parenting information for children aged 0-15 years.
Act for Kids
A charity providing free services to help prevent and treat child abuse and neglect.
Bravehearts
A child protection advocacy
organisation
, who work to empower, educate and protect in order to make Australia the safest country in the world to raise
children.
NAPCAN
The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Australia.
Western Child Wellbeing Unit
The Western Child Wellbeing Unit (CWU) is based in Dubbo and provides child wellbeing and child protection telephone
advice to Health Workers across NSW Health, Affiliated Health
Services
and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. The primary role of the CWU is to provide support to Health
staff on their safety, welfare and wellbeing concerns for children and young people.
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Child Protection Counselling Services
Referral to Child Protection Counselling Services is made through Family and Community Services, Joint Investigative
Response Team (JIRT), or from the Children’s Court.
The service provides specialist counselling and support to children, young people,
parents
and carers where there has been substantiated physical/emotional abuse, domestic violence or neglect. This
specialised service aims to provide a comprehensive range of services that enhances the health and wellbeing of
children, young people and their families and caregivers and helps to reduce the occurrence and impact of abuse and
neglect. We are uniquely placed to support communities and promote the development of a safe and healthy environment
for all children and young people.
Child Protection Counsellors are based in Bourke, Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Mudgee and Forbes Community Health
Centres. They provide
long term
interventions specialising in complex developmental trauma.
Get in touch with our Community Health Centres using our
facility listing map
to learn more about our Child Protection Counselling Services.
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Rural New Street Program
Rural New Street Western is a specialised counselling service that works with children and young people (10 to 17
years) who have engaged in sexually harmful behaviour, and their families/carers.
The service operates from a free standing cottage in Dubbo and currently provides counselling services to Dubbo and
outreaches to other towns as required. Rural New Street Western also offers consultation/training on sexual harm by
children and young people to health colleagues and to interagency partners.
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Out of Home Care - Health Pathway Program
The Out of Home Care Health Pathway Program aims to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Out of
Home Care. The 'Model Health Pathway for the Comprehensive Health and Developmental Health Assessments for All
Children and Young People Entering OOHC', also known as the 'Health Pathway', underpins the work we do,
which includes health assessment, planning, targeted service intervention, review and monitoring.
Partners and stakeholders in the Health Pathway Program include children and young people, carers, parents, health
providers, carers, and children and young people's caseworkers from government and Non-Government Organisations
(NGOs).
The program supports continuity of care with an identified health provider, and facilitates transfer to other
Out of Home Care Health Pathway Programs across NSW when children and young people move from this Health District.
Referrals to the Out of Home Care Health Pathway Program are made by the Department of Family and Community Services.
Currently, children and young people who entered statutory care after 1 July 2010 are eligible for referral.
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Child Wellbeing Coordinator
The role of the Child Wellbeing Coordinator is to assist Local Health Districts implement reforms to child protection
under the
‘Keep Them Safe’
framework; and within this, to act as a link between Child Wellbeing Units and Local Health Districts.
Child Wellbeing Coordinators consult with health workers and community partner agencies providing advice and
education regarding child protection related matters.
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