The aim of the report’s authors was to bridge the gulf between knowledge and action, especially with reference to the Australian child welfare sector. Research evidence can powerfully inform policy and practice. Too often, however, this is not the case.

In this paper Ellen Fish, Leah Bromfield and Daryl Higgins explore this somewhat controversial phenomenon and discusses the implications of FIIC for practitioners working to protect children from harm.

There are significantly fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers than there are Indigenous children in out of home care. This report examines the recruitment, retention, training, assessment and support of Indigenous people caring for these children.

Leah Bromfield and Daryl Higgins provide a comprehensive national snapshot of Australian statutory child protection services covering: who is responsible for child protection; intake procedures; who notifies concerns to child protection services; and the process of providing child protection services in Australian states and territories (intake, risk assessment, investigation and case management).