2024 Family Services Study Tour

During August the Centre is leading a member study tour to attend the ISPCAN Congress and visit some child and family service organisations in Sweden and Switzerland. The Study Tour is an opportunity to explore innovative approaches beyond our borders and bring back valuable insights to benefit the children, young people, families, and carers we support.

Centre CEO Deb Tsorvaris says Victoria’s child and family services leadership has a strong culture of continuous improvement.

“As the peak body we are committed to offering professional development opportunities for our members that help them find new evidence and adopt emerging best practices in their work.

“Sweden was a must-visit for our tour, coming in first in the 2023 Kids Rights Index and the2023 Best Countries for Raising Kids ranking. Sweden has excellent social protection systems and a strong focus on early intervention and prevention, providing robust support for children and families across health, education, and social care,” she says.

A highlight of the tour is the 2024 ISPCAN Congress in Uppsala, where member organisation representatives can connect with global experts in child and family welfare. Geneva is another key stop. As the home of the United Nations and a global hub for the protection of child rights, it’s the perfect place to learn how to apply a stronger child rights lens to the Centre and member organisations work in Victoria.

Ms Tsorbaris says the tour offers the opportunity to collectively gain a deeper understanding of how these countries tackle the global issues facing children and families today.

“We’ll meet with Swedish and Swiss service providers, policymakers, and child advocates to share insights and learn from their approaches,” she says.

Itinerary

19 – 21 August – ISPCAN Congress 2024

The Congress theme for Uppsala 2024 is Working Together in Times of Crisis. The Congress will highlight the new challenges that children face, as well as the innovative solutions our global community is employing in research and practice. Increasing violence and armed conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change are all threatening the well-being of children and families.

22 August – Familjecenral (Swedish Family Centre)

Often referred to as “Familjecentral” in Swedish, Family Centres are community-based centres that offer a wide range of support services to families with children. These centres play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of families and provide a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” for services and resources.

23 August – City of Stockholm Department of Social Services

Skolfam and other Foster Care innovations, Early Intervention and Prevention Services for Families, and Improving Outcomes for Romani Children, Young People and Families with Romani Bridge Builders.

26 August – HVB Residential Care Home

The second most common type of our of home care placement in Sweden is residential care, encompassing homes for care or residence (hem för vård eller boende, HVB hem) (23%) and more secure, state-run facilities (särskilt ungdomshem, SiS hem) (4%).  Of the approximately 450 treatment-oriented residential care units (excluding homes for refugee children), nearly 80% are currently operated by private companies, increasingly by large for-profit corporations.  The landscape of residential care for children and youth in
Sweden is diverse, with varying ownership structures and therapeutic approaches.

27 August – Geneva

Meeting with Child Rights Connect, UNICEF Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility and the Australian Permanent Mission to the UN.

28 August – Geneva

Meet with Eglantyne Jebb, the founder of Save the Children, who laid the groundwork for children’s rights advocacy with the 1922 “Geneva Declaration,” which became the cornerstone of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is followed by an afternoon workshop with the Child and Youth Friendly Governance Project, an international non-governmental organisation with a focus on strengthening children’s right to be heard.

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