Elevating parents’ voices in the child protection system: the Fin WA Family Partner Model
What if parents navigating the child protection system had a trusted guide who had walked the same path?
Parents Long for Trusted Allies
Peer-based support has long been recognised to help people engaging with government services understand systems, advocate for themselves, and build stronger relationships with caseworkers. The child protection system, in particular, can be overwhelming, disempowering, and isolating for parents and carers. As a result, many parents feel unheard, judged, and powerless when engaging with child protection services.
Recognising this challenge, Fin WA (Family Inclusion Network WA) sought to create a model where parents with lived experience could become Family Partners. These partners would act as trusted allies, guiding and supporting parents as they engage with child protection services, while also working towards broader systemic change.
Lived Experience Helps Parents Feel Seen
Throughout 2023 and 2024, in partnership with Innovation Unit (now ThirdStory), Fin WA designed and implemented the Family Partner Model with funding from Lotterywest. The Model has already demonstrated significant benefits for parents and the broader child protection system. These include:
Parents feel more confident and empowered to have a say in their interactions with the child protection system.
A growing recognition of the importance of lived experience within policy and service delivery, and of inviting parents’ voices to the table.
Early interventions by Family Partners, in some cases, can help prevent child removals.
By embedding lived experience into child protection, the Family Partner Model is not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to a larger shift in the system itself. The success of this initiative demonstrates that when parents are supported by peers who understand their struggles, they can ultimately work towards better outcomes for themselves and their children.
“My Family Partner looked at me as a mother … let me be a mother without my children.”
Co-Designing Peer Support for Parents
This initiative was developed through a rigorous co-design process involving parents with lived experience, child protection workers, Aboriginal Elders, and sector experts.
Key practices involved:
Listening to parents: Focus groups and interviews with parents who had direct experience with the child protection system to understand their needs.
Sector collaboration: Engaging professionals across child protection, social services, and Aboriginal organisations to refine the model.
Piloting peer support: Recruiting and training five Family Partners, all of whom with lived experience of child protection systems.
Crucial insights from these processes allowed Fin WA to implement a service that effectively responds to parents’ needs. Some of these include the following:
Parents feel more heard and supported when guidance comes from someone who has been in their shoes.
Family Partners help maintain communication between parents and caseworkers, reducing adversarial dynamics.
Informal gatherings like Pamper Days provide parents with opportunities to connect, share, and heal.
A culturally informed approach is essential in addressing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal families in the child protection system.
To ensure the long-term success of the program, Fin WA is advocating for ongoing funding to sustain and expand Family Partner services. Strengthening collaboration with sector partners is also a priority, as integrating peer work into broader child protection practices will enhance its impact. Continuous evaluation and learning will help refine the model and measure long-term outcomes, ensuring that it remains responsive to the needs of parents and families.
Project team
Jethro Sercombe Director, Innovation Practice
Helene Tholoniat Project Lead
Kaci Oliphant Project Lead