CHILD SAFETY
Youturn is committed to providing children and young people with safe and nurturing environments through a variety of parenting and child safety programs across the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba regions. Our dedicated and specialised staff work closely with families, young people, and children who are experiencing or are at risk of harm.
Youturn also provides support to families to help children stay engaged in school and reduce their involvement with the youth justice system through initiatives like The Base Family Support program.
Our team support
vulnerable
families
to help them to maintain
the family unit.
children & young people (aged 0-18)
who are at risk of harm and
unable to safely remain in their
parents’ care.
Highlights
Youturn’s Child Safety programs highlight this year was the successful completion of the Human Service Quality Framework (HSQF) audit, which resulted in zero non-conformities. This is an amazing achievement that highlights the exceptional skills and practices of our Child Safety teams. The rigorous audit process ensures compliance with legislation, frameworks, and sector standards by thoroughly reviewing documentation, policies, processes, and client management systems while gathering feedback from both clients and staff.
In addition to this accomplishment, Youturn was invited by the Department of Child Safety to participate in collaborative panels focused on improving out-of-home care and family service delivery across the region, further solidifying our role as a trusted partner in child safety.
Other achievements
- Youturn hosted a Family Support Services Morning Tea, bringing together key Department of Child Services funded organisations across the Sunshine Coast. The event fostered effective collaboration and information-sharing, enabling Youturn’s Intensive Family Support (IFS) team to reduce waitlists and respond to referrals more quickly.
- Ongoing funding for OFS pilot program: The pilot program for the Outreach Family Support (OFS) was granted an additional 12 months of funding based on the success of the initial trial, showcasing its effectiveness and impact.
- Contract renewal: Successfully secured another 12-month contract for services, having met all key performance indicators (KPIs) during the initial period.
- The Base KPI success: The Base program achieved all KPIs for the year, with 74% of families reaching the majority of their goals, reflecting the program’s positive impact on family outcomes.
- Strengthened partnership with Nambour State College: Trusting relationships were strengthened with Nambour State College, Queensland, fostering a collaborative partnership that enables both teams to work towards achieving the best outcomes for families and students supported by The Base.
- IFS team success: The Intensive Family Support (IFS) team delivered outstanding outcomes, improving family functioning, strengthening relationships, and keeping families together.
- Innovative practice in SIL program: The Supported Independent Living (SIL) program demonstrated leadership in innovative practice and was commended by the Department of Child Safety for its continued success in supporting young people exiting the child protection system.
Challenges
- Housing instability: The rising cost of living and unaffordable rent have left many low to middle-income families unable to secure stable housing, impacting family wellbeing and children’s safety.
- Domestic and family violence (DFV): Around 95% of the families we support are affected by DFV, increasing the risk to children and placing additional pressure on our workers to ensure their safety.
- Mental health services: Limited access to trauma-informed mental health services has led Youturn to use client brokerage funds, resulting in longer support periods for families who still need help but not at the intensive level of IFS.
Future focus
- Secondary family support gaps: Youturn is addressing a significant gap in secondary family support on the northern Sunshine Coast by sourcing resources to establish a new service in Tewantin.
- SIL readiness program: Youturn is collaborating with the Department of Child Safety to co-design a Supported Independent Living (SIL) readiness program, currently awaiting approval, to better prepare young people for life after care.
- Expansion of the Base program: Youturn aims to secure funding for the Base program beyond 2025 and explore opportunities to expand it into additional Sunshine Coast schools to increase its reach.
Funders
As a Licensed Care provider, our Child Safety services and programs are funded by the Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.
CASE STUDY
A brighter future
In a remarkable display of resilience and quick action, our Intensive Family Support (IFS) team supported a mother and her two children in escaping a dangerous situation and finding safety. The family had been living in a cabin park, but due to escalating domestic and family violence, they were forced to flee their home. Within just 48 hours, IFS organised a refuge for the family, relocating them to a safe and secure location where they could begin to rebuild their lives.
Recognising the importance of stability for the children, IFS swiftly facilitated their enrolment in local schools and daycares, ensuring they had everything they needed to start anew. The children were provided with all the necessary school stationery, uniforms, and shoes, allowing them to focus on their education without worry. The young girl has already begun to thrive, quickly making friends in her class, while her older sister is receiving specialised support through an NDIS Coordinator and youth work initiatives to help her build a sense of community and inclusion.
Looking ahead, IFS is committed to empowering the mother to regain her independence. Plans are in place to support her through parenting programs and assist her in obtaining a driver’s licence, with the help of local support groups in the Sunshine Coast area. This holistic approach not only provides immediate safety but also lays the groundwork for a brighter, more secure future for the entire family.
This inspiring story is a testament to the power of community support and the resilience of those who, despite facing tremendous challenges, are determined to create a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
I can’t express how grateful I am to the IFS team. They helped us find safety when we had nowhere to go, and gave my children the chance to start fresh in school. For the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful about our future.
Parent
CASE STUDY
Harry* was just 16 years old* when he first joined Youturn’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) program, after being supported through Youturn’s Residential Care Program. Over the course of his young life, Harry had experienced domestic and spousal abuse, and significant trauma, and as a result had difficulties self-regulating his emotions.
Harry engaged in significant substance misuse, often used as a means to regulate his feelings and emotions. When first entering the SIL program, Harry was motivated to make a change in his life. Throughout his time with the SIL team, Harry worked extremely hard to achieve some outstanding outcomes. Making the decision to minimise substance misuse was a big goal for Harry. His SIL team supported Harry to connect with a psychologist that understood his experiences, and that Harry felt comfortable with. Through this support, Harry was able to start to recognise his triggers, and learned to express his thoughts and feelings in a positive way. Over time, Harry was able to minimise his substance misuse, which gave him a clearer mindset to work toward achieving his goals. Harry explored alternate strategies to manage his emotions by developing a strong connection to country music and taking time to process triggers, prior to reacting.
Over time, Harry’s confidence grew, and he was able to identify relationships that were no longer healthy for him. With support from the SIL team, Harry worked hard on his self-worth, and became more and more empowered to make decisions about his life. Dedicated to completing his studies, Harry worked extremely hard and graduated from high school, enrolled in a Cert IV in Youth Work, and would now like to give back and help others who find themselves in a similar situation to his own. Harry now wants to use all the knowledge and experiences he has gained to help others. Now living independently, Harry can see the great things his future may hold and is working harder than ever to achieve his big dreams.
*name changed
HOMELESSNESS
