Established and New Models of Care in Australia’s Child Protection Systems

This chapter looks at a range of models for the care of children in Australia who have been removed from parental care. Some options for children placed in out-of-home care are identified in Australian legislation, including family reunification, third-party parental responsibility orders, guardianship/custody orders, and adoption. Additional options for the placement of children are emerging but are not yet recognised in legislation. New options for placement of children at risk of harm include: shared care where biological parents remain involved in the care of their child who lives with a foster carer; open adoption; the promising development of therapeutic foster care; and clinician-led support.