Empowering peer-parent and family advocacy in Australian child protection: Building capability among parents and family members with intellectual disability

Australian child protection systems are in crisis.  In 2021-2022, Australian governments spent $8.2 billion on child protection services, a doubling of costs over the previous decade.  Children of parents with intellectual disability are one group who are over-represented in, and have increased risk of contact with, the child protection system.  They are four times more likely to be subjects of investigation compared to other children and young people, and six times more likely to be removed from their families.

Our ARC Linkage project seeks to transform Australian child protection systems by building national capability in peer-parent and family advocacy (PPFA), including the capability of parents and family members with intellectual disability.  PPFA enables parents and family members who themselves have had experience of the child welfare system, to help other parents and family members to navigate it and help to develop strategies to change the system.  The limited research with parents and family members with intellectual disability suggests that PPFA can build their confidence and skills in navigating child protection systems and in challenging stigmas towards them.  One of the aims of this ARC linkage project is to explore what resources and processes are needed to support parents and family caregivers with intellectual disability to achieve accessible and sustainable opportunities as peer advocates.  We are seeking a PhD scholar to undertake research on PPFA with parents and family members with intellectual disability.  As part of the broader ARC Linkage project on PPFA, the successful candidate will be able to determine their specific focus with regards to parents and family members with intellectual disability.  Possible topics include but are not limited to, inclusive co-design with parents and family members with intellectual disability; practice approaches in advocacy development with this group; analysis of service and system factors which affect the implementation of PPFA with this group.  Interested candidates are welcome to contact Dr Kathy Ellem to discuss their ideas.

The PhD scholar will be based in UQ's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work (NMSW).  NMSW is the only social work school nationally to receive an ERA 5 ranking (outstanding research performance well above world standard) in the last two rounds. NMSW has a strong reputation in applied research related to strengthening family, community and professional workforce capacities to enhance the wellbeing of children, young people and their families, including those families with lived experience of disability. NMSW provides a supportive HDR program including an active student community of practice. The PhD scholar will also be supported within the broader project team, which includes our seven Partner Organisations who are industry leaders in family and community led approaches to achieving children’s safety and family well-being.