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Services, support and life outcomes for autistic Australians

Neurodivergence

The Senate Select Committee on Autism has released its report investigating the services, support and life outcomes for autistic Australians. The inquiry found that life outcomes for autistic Australians are poor and there is a compelling need for change to address the discrimination and service access difficulties faced by people with autism and their families. The report makes 81 recommendations.

Don’t take it as read: Inquiry into adult literacy and its importance

education, employment

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has released its report on adult literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills in Australia. It includes an examination of the benefits of investing in adult language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills to assist parents to support their children’s education. The report makes 15 recommendations.

Social media and online safety

online safety

The House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety has released its report investigating the range of online harms faced by Australians on social media and other online platforms and the impacts of these harms on wellbeing. It makes 26 recommendations.

Inquiry into Victoria’s criminal justice system

criminal justice system, inquiry

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee has released its two-volume report on Victoria’s criminal justice system and the impacts of exposure to the system. The report provides an overview of the system and a statistical and demographic snapshot. It covers crime prevention and early intervention; overrepresentation; policing; victims of crime and their experiences and support needs; charges, bail and remand; courts and sentencing; the prison system and conditions; prison supports and rehabilitation; parole and the post-sentence scheme; judicial appointments; and judicial training and education. It makes 100 recommendations.

Effectiveness of the Navigator Program

education, program analysis

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office has released this report examining the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) management of the Navigator Program and assessing whether the delivery of the program is effectively re-engaging students in education and achieving outcomes for students. The audit found that DET is unable to demonstrate the effectiveness or equitable delivery of Navigator. The report makes four recommendations.

Success, retention, and completion of care leaver students in Australian higher education

care leavers, education

This report from researchers at Latrobe University and Federation University Australia examines the access, geo-demographic profile, course selection, success, retention, and completion rates of care leavers across the two universities. The study found that a whole of life cycle approach to supporting care-experienced students is needed to address the compounding disadvantages they often face. The report noted that the outreach and recruitment strategies adopted by La Trobe University and Federation University Australia, supported by the Raising Expectations program – which is led by the Centre in partnership with the two universities and Swinburne University – show the potential to increase enrolments dramatically through targeted actions. The researchers make eight recommendations.

Trends and needs in the Australian child welfare workforce: An exploratory study

child protection

This report from the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University explores emerging trends, issues and needs in the child welfare workforce and the educational profile of this workforce. The study found that the tertiary component of the child welfare workforce within jurisdictional statutory welfare agencies is predominantly tertiary-qualified, however limitations in data availability prevented a more detailed analysis. The report concludes that the workforce is facing significant challenges that are getting in the way of a transition to a public health model of child welfare provision in Australia.

Secondary traumatic stress and staff well-being: understanding compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout in therapeutic care

2022

This guide supports organisational congruence in trauma-informed care by emphasising staff well-being. It provides strategies to address secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout.

‘No more excuses’: Primary prevention of violence against women with disability

disability, family violence

The University of Melbourne has released this report investigating the current state of knowledge on the extent and nature of violence against women with disability in Australia, and on ‘what works’ to prevent violence from happening. The study found that the evidence base on ‘what works’ is small. Disability service settings, disability support workers and educational settings were identified by women with disability as the settings with the most promise for primary prevention action.

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