Child-centred practice in child protection – part one

In the first of this special double episode, Dr Carmela Bastian talks with child protection specialists Dr Amy Bromley (Policy and Advocacy Lead, Child and Family Focus SA), Arabella Stravolemos (social worker and child protection advocate) and Chloe Henderson (Senior Manager Children’s Services Partnerships, Relationships Australia SA). They talk about their approaches to child-centred practice, including ways of genuinely prioritising children’s safety, emotional needs, wellbeing, voice and rights.  

Amy, Arabella and Chloe describe their professional and lived experiences within the child protection system, providing case examples of practices that hold children at the centre of practice and policy. This includes an exploration of conversations with children that help to identify their hopes and preferences for professional engagement.

In this episode you will learn about:   

• professional descriptions and interpretations of child-centred practice [2:20] 

• ways in which conversations with children can occur without prejudice and give them opportunities to share their perspectives and preferences [8:08] 

• a case example of a professional who made a profound difference by operating in child-centred ways [12:45] 

• descriptions of practice processes that allow for authentic connection with children in a child protection context [15:47] 

• approaches for responding to children’s experiences of trauma and disrupted attachment [21:03] 

• centring a child’s needs in the context of trauma experiences [25:02] 

Related Emerging Minds resources 

Engaging with children (online course) 

Recognising and strengthening the stories of children in care (practice paper) 

Child-focused practice for complex problems (practice paper)