Aboriginal Health Forum
Every Child Every Chance
Comprehensive health assessment for children and young people in out-of-home care
Overview
GPV and the Child Protection and Family Services branch of the Department of Human Services are collaborating to establish a new system for assessing the health of all children coming into out-of-home care in Victoria. DHS has provided funding for a 12 month project from 1 August 2007 to begin building strong linkages between the general practice and child protection sectors. One of the main goals of the project is to ensure that each child has a health assessment by a general practitioner within the first 30 days of entering out-of-home care.
GPV has developed a one-day continuing medical education workshop for general practitioners about these health assessments and submitted to the RACGP for its recognition as a Category 1 QA&CPD activity attracting 40 points in the new triennium. A field trial of the workshop was held on 1 March 2008 to ensure that the content and design would meet the needs of general practice.
Key Objectives
The long-term objectives of this educational initiative are to facilitate improved knowledge in general practice of:
- the health needs of children in out-of-home care including the effects of trauma
- the key elements of health assessment for this group
- techniques and resources for assessment.
- linkages with the child protection sector.
For more information contact:
- Every Child Every Chance � Comprehensive health assessment for children and young people in out-of-home care project please contact Hari Kakouris, General Practice Education Consultant, Ph: 03 9341 5236 | Fax: 03 9341 5299 | Email: h.kakouris@gpv.org.au
- Child Health Assessment Teams � Mary Hughes, General Practice Consultant, Ph: 03 9341 5211| Fax: 03 9341 5299 | Email: m.hughes@gpv.org.au