Enabling children to flourish: A report on the implementation of the UCSA Child Aware Approach

This report provides recommendations based on findings from a study that investigated Uniting Country SA (formerly UnitingCare Wesley Country SA) practitioner and client understandings and experiences of the Uniting Country SA Child Aware Approach. With the support of an Australian Government grant, Uniting Country SA (UCSA) established a universal Child Aware Approach (CAA) in 2012 and has been implementing a range of initiatives to ensure that a CAA continues to be central to the daily work of their staff. UCSA introduced their Child Safe Organisation Policy in 2010 and their Child Aware Approach policy in 2013 (UCWCSA 2014a,2014b).This study was undertaken using multiple methods. An electronic survey was distributed to all UCSA staff, volunteers and foster carers to ascertain respondents’ understanding of the Child Aware Approach, as well as their perspectives on their own implementation of the Child Aware Approach across UCSA sites and programs. A focus group with Child Aware Approach Champions was held to gain insights in to their experiences of extending and maintaining an organisation-wide understanding and implementation of the Child Aware Approach. Two focus groups were held with UCSA clients who have participated in, or are participating in, UCSA parenting programs that included elements of the Child Aware Approach, to elicit their perspectives on outcomes of UCSA becoming (or being) a Child Aware Organisation. Finally, interviews were undertaken with key staff involved in the development and implementation of the UCSA Child Aware Approach to obtain their insights into the program, and their perspectives on preliminary study findings. The findings provide insights and recommendations for enhancing future Uniting Country SA Child Aware activities.