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Prevention and Early Intervention

Strategies that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities.

1. Strengthening and supporting parents and families

The portfolios of the Departments for Child Protection, Disability Services, Education, Health, Justice and Police strengthen and support parents and families to care for their children. Responses include:

  • Information and advice on child health, effective parenting and safe communities. Campaigns such as “Babies Break if you Shake Them” and “Freedom from Fear” inform communities about issues known to impact negatively on the wellbeing of children.
  • Intensive home visiting services for parents with children up to 2 years of age, which is being strengthened through the expansion of the
    Best Beginnings program for high-risk families with babies.
  • The WA Early Years Strategy to support children, families, carers and communities to improve the wellbeing of children up to 8 years of age and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Years Support Services for parents and carers with children up to 3 years of age.
  • Child health nurses who identify and respond to priority needs of expectant mothers and young children.
  • Counselling services for children exposed to family and domestic violence.
  • Specialised 24 hour helplines for men and women affected by family and domestic violence.
  • In-home practical support programs to improve housing management and life skills to help families to maintain their accommodation.
  • Support and advocacy service to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to maintain their tenancies.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth and Family Engagement Workers to provide intensive family support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
  • Parenting programs for young mothers and fathers in juvenile detention.
  • Disability Services Standards will be developed which require the organisations funded to provide services for people with disabilities to act to prevent abuse and neglect.
  • The Grandcare service which supports grandparents caring for their grandchildren.

The Department for Child Protection provides funding to over 550 community agencies to deliver services that strengthen and support families. These services include:

  • Family centres, domestic violence advocacy support, women’s refuges, family support, Indigenous family safety, financial counseling, home visiting, crisis accommodation, occasional care, counseling and parenting services, grants, services for young people and support and advocacy for people in private accommodation and in-home support.

2. Building stronger and safer communities

Responses include:

  • The Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 will require criminal record checking of certain persons working with children in a paid or unpaid capacity.
  • Parental Responsibility Orders and associated intensive support services.
  • Capacity Builders in country locations to work with their local communities to help them  develop solutions to their issues.
  • The Indigenous Community Partnerships Fund which enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to develop innovative solutions to local problems.
  • A Directory of Services for New Arrivals to Western Australia informs people who have recently arrived in Australia of services in the community.

3. Confronting family and domestic violence

The WA Family and Domestic Violence State Strategic Plan 2004-2008 has provided the framework for:

  • The revised Criminal Code and the Restraining Orders Act.
  • The implementation of training using the nationally endorsed competency standards.
  • Community capacity building approach to develop solutions to address family and domestic violence.
  • Provision of the statewide online resource guide of family and domestic violence services.

4. Enhancing responses to children and families with special needs

Examples include:

  • Development of a statewide multidisciplinary Family Pathways service for children with complex mental health needs.
  • Intensive support programs for parents of children with a disability.
  • Coordinated access to services for children with autism spectrum disorders.
  • Residential and therapeutic withdrawal and respite centre for young people affected by substance use.