Mapping change in a child and family centre in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

This paper reports on the Melbourne, Australia component of the International Study of Sensitive Outcomes. One family was recruited from Berry Street Victoria in Melbourne to participate in a case study. A naturalistic case study of the work with this family has been conducted from shortly after intake to termination. The intervention under examination was that of family therapy. The study utilised the principles of participant action research to identify the ‘steps-on-the-way’ to the identified ‘crude outcome’ of strengthened family relationships. Important 'stepson-the-way’ included clarification of limits and boundaries to ensure safety in the home, family members becoming more accountable for their movements through more active communication, rituals of nurture being initiated to engage an estranged young adult family member and family strengths and resources being affirmed in therapy sessions. The role of the Family Centre as ‘container’, along with the evident synergy between the Centre and its ecological niche, emerge as instrumental contextual factors in the change process. 

Portions of this manuscript are revised from a prior publication: McNamara, P.M. (in press). Assessing sensitive outcomes in child and family services. In A.N. Maluccio, C. Canali, & T. Vecchiato (Eds.), Measuring success in child welfare. London: Oxford University Press. Revision is included here with permission of the publisher.