Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T04:44:24.541Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Working with families from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Queensland: An Australian exploratory study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Jatinder Kaur
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In Australia there is limited research and information regarding how Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) families are assessed within the child protection system. This paper explores assessment issues faced by child protection investigation officers when working with CALD families in the Queensland child protection system. The research examined the level of knowledge, training and experiences of child protection officers and whether they were ‘culturally competent’. The study found that entry level officers did not receive adequate training and resources, and lacked CALD-specific knowledge on how to deal with cross cultural issues when working with CALD families. Respondents indicated that interpreters‘ services were effective during investigation and assessment of CALD families. The findings of this study highlight key concerns in the provision of child protection assessments, practice, policy and service delivery when working with CALD families.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , 2007 , pp. 17 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2006) viewed 19 October 2007, <www.censusdata.abs.gov.au>..>Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2007) Child Protection Australia 2005–06, viewed 19 October 2007, <http://www.aihw.gov.au>..>Google Scholar
Berger, L., McDaniel, M. & Paxson, C. (2005) ‘Assessing parenting behaviors across racial groups: Implications for the child welfare system’, Social Sen’ice Review,79:4.Google Scholar
Brophy, J., Jhutti-Johal, J. & McDonald, E. (2005) Minority ethnic parents, their solicitors and child protection litigation. Department of Constitutional Affairs, UK, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.dca.gov.uk/research/2005/5_2005_sm1.pdf>..>Google Scholar
Chand, A. (2005) ‘Do you speak English? Language barriers in child protection social work with minority ethnic families’, British Journal of Social Work, 35, 807–821.Google Scholar
Chibnall, S., Dutch, N.M., Jones-Harden, B., Brown, A., Gourdine, R., Smith, J., Boone, A. & Snyder, S. (2003) Children of colour in the child welfare system: Perspectives from the child welfare community, Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau, Adminisiration for Children and Families, USA, viewed 19 October 2007, <http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/otherpubs/children/index.cfm>..>Google Scholar
Child Protection Act 1999, Queensland Government, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.legislation.qld.gov.au>..>Google Scholar
Cohen, E.P. (2003) Framework for culturally competent decision making in child welfare, Child Welfare, 82(2), Mar–Apr, 143–155.Google Scholar
Connolly, M. (2006) ‘Fifteen years of family group conferencing: Coordinators talk about their experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand’, British Journal of Social Work, 36, 523–540.Google Scholar
Connolly, M., Crichton-Hill, Y. & Ward, T. (2006) Culture and child protection: Reflexive responses, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Crime and Misconduct Commission (2004) Protecting children: An inquiry into abuse of children in foster care, CMC, Queensland, viewed 19 October 2007, www.cmc.qld.gov.au.Google Scholar
Child Welfare League of America (2001) Cultural Competency Agency Self-Assessment Instrument, revised edition, CWLA Press: Washington, USA, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.cwla.org/programs/culturalcompetence/culturalabout.htm>..>Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2006a) Working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Practice Paper, DCS, Queensland, August, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/practice-manual/documents/prac-paper-working-cald.pdf Google Scholar
Department of Child Safety (2006b) Research Strategy 2006–2009, Department of Child Safety, Queensland, March, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.childsafety.qld.gov.au>..>Google Scholar
Drake, B. & Zuravin, S. (1998) ‘Bias in child maltreatment reporting: Revisiting the myth of classlessness’, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68(2), 295–304.Google Scholar
Ernst, J.S. (1999) ‘Whanau knows best: Kinship care in New Zealand’, in Hegar, R.L. & Scannapieco, M. (eds.) Kinship foster care: Policy, practice & research, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Fluke, J., Yuan, Y., Hedderson, J. & Curtis, P. (2003) ‘Disproportionate representation of race and ethnicity in child maltreatment: Investigation and victimization’, Children & Youth Services Review, 25(5), pp. 359–373.Google Scholar
Fontes, L.A. (2005) Child abuse and culture: Working with diverse families, Guilford Press, New York.Google Scholar
Forde, L. (1999) Report of the Commission of Inquiry into abuse of children in Queensland Institutions, Queensland Government, viewed 19 October 2007, <www.communities.qld.gov.au/community/redress-scheme/publications/html>..>Google Scholar
Garrett, P. (2002) ‘“No Irish need apply”: Social work in Britain and the history and politics of exclusionary paradigms and practices’, British Journal of Social Work, 32, 477–494.Google Scholar
Gilligan, P. & Akhtar, S. (2005) ‘Cultural barriers to the disclosure of child sexual abuse in Asian communities: Listening to what women say’, British Journal of Social Work, Oct, 1–17.Google Scholar
Gopalkrishnan, N. (n.d.) Cultural diversity and civic participation in Queensland, Centre for Multicultural and Community Development, University of Sunshine Coast, viewed 19 October 2007, <http://www.usc.edu.au/Research/Centres/CMCD/Publications.htm>..>Google Scholar
Harrison, G. (2006) ‘Broadening the conceptual lens on language in social work: Difference, diversity and English as a global language’, British Journal of Social Work, 36, 401–418.Google Scholar
lbanez, E., Borrego, J., Pemberton, J. & Terao, S. (2006) ‘Cultural factors in decision-making about child physical abuse: Identifying reporter characteristics in influencing reporting tendencies’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 30, 1365–1379.Google Scholar
Kocarek, C., Talbot, D., Batka, J. & Anderson, M. (2001) ‘Reliability and validity of three measures of multicultural competency’, Journal of Counseling & Development, 79(4), 486–495.Google Scholar
Koramoa, J., Lynch, M.A. & Kinnair, D. (2002) ‘A continuum of child rearing: Responding to traditional practices’, Child Abuse Review, 11, 415–421.Google Scholar
Korbin, J.E. (2002) ‘Culture and child maltreatment: Cultural competence and beyond’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 26, 637–644.Google Scholar
Lee, M.Y. (2003) ‘A solution focused approach to cross-cultural clinical social work practice: Utilizing cultural strengths’, Families in Society, 84(3), 385–395.Google Scholar
Local Government Association of Queensland Inc (2003) Embracing cultural diversity: Action guide to community relations for Queensland local governments, Brisbane, Queensland.Google Scholar
Laming, H. (2003) ‘The Victoria Climbié Inquiry: Report of an inquiry by Lord Laming’, The Stationery Office, London, viewed 19 October 2007, <http://www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk>.Google Scholar
Maitra, B. (2005) ‘Culture and child protection’, Current Pediatrics, 15, 253–259.Google Scholar
McCallum, S. (1995) ‘Child protection investigations as first interviews’, Children Australia, 20(3), 11–14.Google Scholar
McPhatter, A. (1997) ‘Cultural competence in child welfare: What is it? How do we achieve it? What happens without it?’, Child Welfare, 76(1), 255–278.Google Scholar
McPhatter, A. & Ganaway, T.L. (2003) ‘Beyond the rhetoric: Strategies for implementing culturally effective practice with children, families and communities’, Child Welfare, 82(2), Mar–Apr, 103–124.Google Scholar
Mederos, F. & Woldeguiorguis, I. (2003) ‘Beyond cultural competence: What child proetction managers need to know and do’, Child Welfare, 82(2), 125–142.Google Scholar
Multicultural Development Association and Queensland Council of Social Services (2005) Changing the wheels: Child safety concerns in multicultural Queensland, Issues Paper for the Department of Child Safety, Queensland.Google Scholar
O’Neale, V. (2000) Excellence not excuses: Inspection of services for ethnic minority children and families, viewed 19 October 2007, <http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsInspectionReports/DH_4006913>..>Google Scholar
Patton, M.Q. (2002) Qualitative research & evaluation methods, 3rd ed, Sage Publications, USA.Google Scholar
Pelczarski, Y. & Kemp, S. (2006) ‘Patterns of child maltreatment referral among Asian and Pacific Islander families’, Child Welfare, 85(1), Jan–Feb, 5–31.Google Scholar
Reder, P. & Duncan, S. (2004) ‘Making the most of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report’, Child Abuse Review, 13, 95–114 Google Scholar
Segal, U.A. & Mayadas, N.S. (2005) ‘Assessment of issues facing immigrant and refugee families’, Child Welfare, 84:5, 563–583 Google Scholar
Teasley, M.L. (2005) ‘Perceived levels of cultural competence through social work educations and professional development for urban school social workers’, Journal of Social Work Education, 41:1, 85–98 Google Scholar
Thoburn, J., Chand, A. & Procter, J. (2005) Child welfare services for minority ethnic families: The research reviewed, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Velde, B., Wittman, P. & Bamberg, R. (2003) ‘Cultural competence of faculty and students in a School of Allied Health’, Journal of Applied Health, 32:3, 189–195 Google Scholar