• Policy directions
• Standards and guidelines
• Research and monitoring
• Policy and funding plan
• Legislation
• Media releases
• State Concessions
• References
• Government websites
• DHS regional & head office contacts

Links

• A Guide to Concessions - Assistance for People on Low Incomes
  Complete listing of all the concessions programs that Victorian concessions card holders may be eligible for.
• Aboriginal Child Placement Principle 2002
• Aboriginal Cultural Competence Framework (2008)
  This Framework will guide mainstream Community Service Organisations in the development of management strategies, policies and direct practice which will provide better outcomes for Aboriginal children and families.
• Adolescent Community Placement - Principles and Program Framework (September 1991)
  This statement of principles and operational framework is intended as the parameters document from which, and within the context of which, further and more specific operational guidelines for the adolescent community placement program will be developed.
• Adoption Information Services - Standards and Practice 1994
  Standards reflect current legislation and should be regularly reviewed to incorporate new knowledge and practice skills to best meet the needs of those affected by adoption. In this document the term program includes the services offered by all the authorised Victorian Adoption Information Services agencies.
• Adoption and Permanent Care Procedures Manual 2004
  The standards document considers the major aspects of adoption practice by detailing the assumptions underlying practice and the objectives of each area of practice and procedural principles.
• Children Youth & Families Policy and Funding Plan
  The Policy and Funding Plan presents, as a single resource, comprehensive information covering five main topics: Policy Context - Overview of the Government's policy framework and the Department's strategic objectives and directions. Divisional Directions - The Division's strategic initiatives and program priorities for 2006/09. Consultation Arrangements - Outline of the Division's consultation arrangements for 2006/09. Budget - Overview of the Division's budget. Service Agreement Information - Supplementary Service Agreement information detailing activities funded, service standards and guidelines and accountability requirements for the Department's funded agencies.
• Code of Practice for Specialist Family Violence Services for Women and Children (2006)
• DHS Management Response to Inhalant Use (February 2003)
  The Department of Human Services has a clear policy that does not permit the passive observation or supervision of clients using inhalants. DHS recognises that inhalant use occurs in people, often young people, who have suffered abuse and neglect. DHS endeavours to exercise its duty of care to these young people by continuing to combat inhalant use.
• Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management (2007)
• Guidance on Promoting Children's Stability
  The scope of this paper is to describe a framework for intervention, and provide practice guidance on promoting children¿s stability throughout the continuum of intervention and planning options.
• Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption
  If the adoption is automatically recognised under the Hague Convention, successful applicants still need to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for a conferral of Australian citizenship. This can be obtained at any time once the child enters Australia. However, if the child is from a Convention country where there is not a full adoption order, adopting parents still need to apply for a local adoption order at the end of 12 months. After a local order has been made, adopting parents can apply for a Victorian Birth Certificate and then for a Citizenship Certificate (Citizenship obtained at hearing).
• Information Sharing Guidelines (every child every chance)
  The Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 authorises certain professionals to share information with Child Protection and family services (including Child FIRST intake teams) about vulnerable children and families. Sharing information is important because effective service provision relies upon all relevant information being available. In addition, the most vulnerable families often need assistance from more than one agency, and information needs to be shared for these agencies to work effectively together. Guidelines have been produced to assist professionals in understanding when they can share information.
• Interim Practical Guide to Voluntary Child Care Agreements April 2007
  The Children Youth & Families Act 2005 introduces some changes to the way in which child care agreements are to be managed in future. The most immediate of these is the need to make use of new child care agreement forms when placing a child or young person in a voluntary placement with the consent of their parents.
• Kinship Care Guidelines January 1996
  The Kinship Care project undertook to review current practice and develop the program guidelines for regional Protective Services staff. The purpose of the guidelines is to: (a) Promote Kinship Care as the first choice of placement where appropriate. (b) Ensure children are placed safely and describe the steps wormers need to take to achieve this. (c) Improve practice in relation to the assessment of caregivers and the support given to kinship care placements, including financial support. (d) Ensure that minimum standards are achieved in Kinship Care placements.
• Men's Behaviour Change Group Work: Minimum Standards and Quality Practice: No To Violence (2005)
  Men's Behaviour Change Group Work: Minimum Standards and Quality Practice, January 2006, provides a detailed explanation of the Minimum Standards and Good Practice Guidelines and comprehensively addresses current and emerging themes in men¿s behaviour change group work practice.
• Practice Guidelines: Women and Children's Family Violence Counselling and Support Programs (2008)
• Protecting Victoria's Children - Child Protection Practice Manual
  Protecting Victoria's Children - Child Protection Practice Manual is a comprehensive online practice manual bringing together the current research, knowledge and practice requirements for statutory child protection in Victoria, Australia. It provides up to date advice regarding essential practice requirements and procedures in addition to information on contemporary directions in child protection. The manual reflects the legislative requirements of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and is designed to complement regular professional supervision and professional development. Please note that this manual has been designed primarily for internal use. It is made available on the internet to assist external parties to access information regarding Department of Human Services Child Protection procedures. Due to technical limitations, some of the links between documents within the manual will not work for internet users.
• Protocol between the Department of Human Services Child Protection Service and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, 2002
  This protocol has been established to facilitate contact between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) to ensure that a culturally appropriate and effective response to protecting Aboriginal children from harm is provided. The purpose of this protocol is to establish mechanisms for ensuring the Child Protection Service is fully informed of all cultural needs and issues including knowledge of extended family, in reaching decisions in regard to Aboriginal children. The protocol will set out broad roles and responsibilities of DHS and VACCA in responding to Aboriginal children notified to the Child Protection Service.
• Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations 2007
  One of the significant reforms of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 is the promotion of high quality services through the registration of community service organisations (CSOs) and the development of performance standards for family and out of home care services. This site provides the register of community service organisations, the registration standards for community service organisations and other useful documents for registered community service organisations.
• Service Agreement Information Kit
• Sharing Messages about AFDM Creating Solutions Together ATSI family Decision making Program learning package
  a learning resource developed by Indigenous Initiatives in conjunction with the Child Protection Professional Development Unit. The learning resources contain facilitators notes and session notes as well as a summary version of Message Sticks.
• Standards of Delivery of Services in Juvenile Justice Custodial Centres 2004
  The standards are designed to operate in conjunction with the Youth Justice centre operations manual in governing and setting benchmarks for all aspects of practice within the centres.
• Standards of Practice for Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault, November 2008
  The Standards of Practice Manual demonstrates a shared vision between Victorian CASAs and the Department of Human Services in recognising the important role CASAs have to play in the delivery of high quality services to victim/survivors of sexual assault.
• Supreme Court (Adoption) Rules 2005
  These Rules are made under section 25 of the Supreme Court Act 1986, section 6(2) of the Adoption Act 1984 and all other enabling powers.
• Victorian Aboriginal Family Preservation Program Service Description 202 and Referral Outcome and Case Closure (update 2004)
  This fact sheet is an introduction to the Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration programs currently being delivered by a range of local Aboriginal community service organisations throughout Victoria.
• Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website (www.legislation.vic.gov.au)
  Parliamentary documents - bills under consideration and House Documents of the Parliament of Victoria. Victorian Statute Book - Victorian Acts and Statutory Rules as passed or made by year. This repository shows all consolidated Principal Victorian Acts and Statutory Rules as in force, at a given point in time. This site provides information about the role of the Office and legislative information, including commencement details of Acts.
• Youth Justice Court Advice Service (Practice Guidelines 2006)
  The Youth Justice Court Advice Service (YJCAS) is a specialised youth focused service provided by the Department of Human Services Youth Justice program for young people between 18 and 20 years of age who are appearing in the Magistrates, County or Supreme courts in relation to criminal matters.
• Youth Justice Group Conferencing Program Guidelines 2006
  Group conferencing is a program based on restorative justice principles. It is a problem-solving approach to offending that aims to balance the needs of young people, victims and the community by encouraging dialogue between individuals who have offended and their victims.
• Youth Justice Guidelines for Implementing Sporting, Recreation and Outdoor Activities (Revised) 2007
  The following guidelines are designed to assist in planning low, moderate to high risk and special activities, and cover activities conducted, funded or promoted by the department.