Shows

Childhood Neglect : A Forensic Assessment Framework

The Child Protection Service, Flinders Medical Centre is conducting a training day on the assessment of childhood neglect. This training day is intended for medical and psycho-social professionals who work in the area of child protection.

The morning session is designed to provide an update on research and a framework for assessing neglect; key issues that confront Families SA (SA mandatory authority) and criminal prosecutions; as well as current practice in relation to domestic squalor.

The keynote speakers in this session are:

Dr Joanna Tully, Forensic Paediatrician, Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne

Dr Jane Edwards, Forensic Paediatrician, Women’s and Children’s Health Network

Sue MacDonald, Principal Practitioner, Families SA

John Wells, Senior Prosecutor, Director of Public Prosecution, SA.

The afternoon session will be led by invited guest Dr Patrick Kelly (Clinical Director, Starship Children’s Hospital, New Zealand) and will highlight the breadth of issues that present at medical examination of neglected children. Seven clinical cases will be presented by paediatricians that work in child protection in New Zealand, Victoria and South Australia. This rich information is presented with the aim of drawing together a range of learnings and a model of best practice for assessing these extremely vulnerable children.