Future-proofing Queensland families: Investigating CatholicCare’s leadership in family support services and responses to national family law reforms
Project report
Title | Future-proofing Queensland families: Investigating CatholicCare’s leadership in family support services and responses to national family law reforms |
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Report Type | Project report |
Authors | Bayliss, Luke (Author), Krishnamoorthy, Govind (Author), Malhotra, Aastha (Author), Beel, Nathan (Author), du Plessis, Carol (Author) and Burton, Lorelle (Author) |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Number of Pages | 108 |
Year | 2022 |
Publisher | University of Southern Queensland |
Place of Publication | Toowoomba, Australia |
Abstract | The Productivity Commission and a Selected Parliamentary Committee completed two comprehensive reviews into Australia’s family law system over the past three years. It was found that the family law system needs to be improved to better service families. As a result of these reviews, more than 60 recommendations have been proposed to reform and improve the family law system. It is expected that proposed reforms will impact family support service providers. Providers who are ready to embrace reforms can adapt and align with family law today and into future to better support families in their community. CatholicCare Social Services Southern Queensland (hereafter referred to as CatholicCare) is the social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba that offers a range of support services for the families and individuals who reside in the regions of Southwest Queensland and the Darling Downs. CatholicCare services and operations are likely to be impacted from expected reforms to Australia’s family law system resulting from recent family law reviews. As such, CatholicCare commissioned the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) to explore connections between family support services, community benefit from these services, and national family law reforms. The purpose of this program of research was to identify current family support service strengths, key community benefits from these services, and pinpoint opportunities for fast tracking community benefits from expected national family law reforms. Reforms most pertinent to CatholicCare were identified through collaboration between members of the UniSQ research team and CatholicCare. Three different but often overlapping programs of research were conducted from October 2019 to October 2022. First, CatholicCare’s postseparation parenting program, the SPARK Program®, was evaluated. Second, the legally assisted services provided by CatholicCare was explored from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Finally, organisational readiness was investigated. Findings are presented from independent research that explored CatholicCare family support services anticipated to be impacted by proposed reforms. Method: The UniSQ research team collected data from the following sources: Analyses for the SPARK Program® included content analysis to develop a program logic model, SWOT analysis, and thematic analysis to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences of the program. A SWOT and thematic analysis were also completed for legally assisted services. A resource-based framework and resource portfolio guided analyses for organisational readiness and resource implications. The findings are presented below according to each program of research. After which, a synthesis of key results representative of all programs of research is presented alongside recommendations for organisational and The SPARK Program®: The SPARK Program® is a six-module (optional seventh module) post-separation parenting program that was developed by CatholicCare. A key finding from the literature reviews is that the family law and blended family modules are unique to the SPARK Program®. The family law module and the child-centred focus of the program were reported as key strengths of the program. Analyses found that the program helped participants normalise separation through their shared experiences and was transformative in communication, emotional, and attitude adjustments. Legally Assisted Services: Children are at the forefront of the legally assisted services provided by CatholicCare. These services range from a free one-hour independent legal advice phone call to a single reduced fee mediation session facilitated collaboration with 22 local law firms. Community benefits include saving individuals’ money and improving understandings of family law to help separating individuals make children-focused decisions and plans, which contributes to sustainable parenting plans. Organisational Readiness: Organisational readiness was explored through the lenses of resource-based frameworks to identify current advantages and implications of proposed reforms. CatholicCare already provides legally assisted services and conducts ongoing training for staff. Case management, and secondary interventions of children contact services and financial counselling were rated as understanding the need for and implications of proposed changes. Human, physical, financial, and social resource implications were identified and mostly focused on hiring and training staff, additional funding related to reforms and indirect costs, and data management to continue to ensure privacy and confidentiality. Synthesis of Findings: Overall, CatholicCare has an established foundation of service strengths developed through a child-centred philosophy embedded in expert family law knowledge. Key opportunities pinpointed for fast tracking community benefit include: If the proposed recommendations reviewed in this report are implemented, CatholicCare is cognisant of the need for and implications of proposed changes. Further, CatholicCare has |
Keywords | CatholicCare; Queensland; family; support servics |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 480402. Family law |
529999. Other psychology not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | School of Psychology and Wellbeing |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7wy8/future-proofing-queensland-families-investigating-catholiccare-s-leadership-in-family-support-services-and-responses-to-national-family-law-reforms
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