Support for families with an at-risk child or young person

You can enter into a FRA if you’re a parent, carer or responsible adult of a child or young person under 18 years old.

A responsible adult is a person who has parental responsibility for the child or young person. This may be in line with:

• contemporary social practice
• Aboriginal customary law and Aboriginal tradition.

Under an FRA, DCF will work with you to develop a plan that meets you and the child's or young person's needs.

This may include connecting you with specialist services and support that can help too.

Together, you will set goals and make any necessary changes to help change the child's or young person’s behaviour.

This may include one or more of the following:

• supporting the child or young person to:
  • regularly attend school
  • build healthy and safe relationships
  • engage in programs that address their needs
  • attend medical and other appointments
  • take part in community or cultural activities
  • separate from peers who may be offending or involved in other anti-social behaviour
• being responsible for the care and supervision of the child or young person by making sure they’re home at night
• engaging in:
  • actions that may result in positive behavioural change
  • community support groups to learn from shared experiences
  • programs to build parenting skills such as counselling, alcohol and other drug services or mental health services.

To achieve these goals, you can explain your concerns for the child or young person and plan:

• what needs to happen to address these concerns
• who will take what actions and by when.

Anyone who helped create the FRA will receive a copy of it. A DCF employee will assist with this.

The FRA is also regularly reviewed by everyone involved. This holds everyone accountable, makes sure goals are being met and any goals and actions are adjusted if needed.

A FRA can last up to 12 months, depending on your needs and the needs of the child or young person.

After the FRA ends, all efforts will be made to ensure referrals to appropriate services have been completed if:

• more support is needed
• the child or young person continues to engage in anti-social behaviours.

If the child or young person is between 10 to 17 years old, they can be referred to voluntary support with DCF.

Entry into the FRA is voluntary so you won’t get a penalty if you don’t follow its conditions.

A mandatory report under the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 can be made for non-compliance if:

• your behaviour is a factor in the child's or young person’s offending
• there are concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person.

You can withdraw from the FRA at any time.

You must notify DCF by talking to the caseworker.

DCF will then:

• talk to you about the decision to make sure you understand what will happen next
• offer support to continue the agreement and keep it on track.