Assignment Task (Assignment Number: UA518)
WEL305A Protection of Children Assignment Solved
Assessment Brief | |
Program | Bachelor of Applied Social Science |
Subject | Protection of Children |
Subject code | WEL305A |
Name of assessment | Assessment 3: Case Study |
Length | 2000 words |
Learning outcomes addressed by this assessment: | B, C, D, E |
Submission Date: | End of week 11, Sunday 11.55 pm |
Assessment brief summary: | Case Study (Ebony’s death): Students are required to respond in essay form to focus questions based on this scenario. See assessment description. |
Total marks | 40 |
Weighting | 40% |
Students are advised that anysubmissionspastthe due dateincura10%penaltyper day, calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 40 will incur a 4 mark penalty per day. Please note: you must attempt all tasks in a subject to be eligible to pass the subject. More information, please refer to the AcademicProgressionPolicyon http://www.think.edu.au/about‐think/think‐ quality/our‐policies. |
Assessment Description:
Starvation of Ebony. See links below http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWCCA/2013/103.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/probes-into-girls-starvation-death/story-e6frg6nf- 1111114818229?nk=fdc3e6b8de02a4d17e05919fc92082b6
The tragic death of Ebony in November 2007 sparked a public outrage in Australia and raised concerns on child protection systems in place.
Students are required to review the case study and comment whether the then child protection laws and systems were adequate. Students are also to explore the subsequent Wood Inquiry into Child Protection Services.
Marking Matrix:
| Max. in category | Your points |
Answering the question and responding to the topic | 10 | |
Links to theories and concepts | 10 | |
Number and choice of appropriate references | 10 | |
Correct referencing style: in-text references and reference list | 5 | |
Word count, structure, readability | 5 | |
Total: | 40 | |
Comments: |
What we want to see:
The work must be fully referenced with in-text citations and a reference list at the end. We recommend you work with your Academic Writing Guide to ensure that you reference correctly. You will find a link to this document on the main page of every unit, under the ‘Assessments’ section. Correct academic writing and referencing are essential tasks that you need to learn. We recommend a minimum of tenreferences.
Referencing: References are assessed for their quality. You should draw on quality academic sources, such as books, chapters from edited books, journals etc. Your textbook can be used as a reference, but not the Study Guide and lecture notes. We want to see evidence that you are capable of conducting your own research. Also, in order to help markers determine students’ understanding of the work they cite, all in-text references (not just direct quotes) must include the specific page number/s if shown in the original.
Researching: You can search for peer-reviewed journal articles, which you can find in the online journal databases and which can be accessed from the library homepage. Reputable news sites such as The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/au/health), online dictionaries and online encyclopedias are acceptable as a starting point to gain knowledge about a topic. Government departments, research institutes such as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local not for profit organisations such as the Cancer Council are also good resources.
Formatting:The assessment MUST be submitted electronically in MicrosoftWordformat. Other formats may not be readable by markers. Please be aware that any assessments submitted in other formats will be considered LATE and will lose marks until it is presented in Word.
What we don’t want to see:
Plagiarism: All sources of information need to properly be acknowledged. Please refer to the plagiarism website on blackboardi. By clicking the ‘Upload this file’ button you acknowledge that you have read, understood and can confirm that the work you are about to submit complies with the Flexible and Online plagiarism policy as shown in the JNI Student Handbook. Like other forms of cheating plagiarism is treated seriously. Plagiarising students will be referred to the Program Manager.
WordCount:Marks will be deducted for failure to adhere to the word count – as a general rule you may go over or under by 10% than the stated length.
Late Submissions: Students are advised that any submissions past the due date incur a 10% penalty per day, calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 30 will incur 3 marks penalty per day.
No submission: Students must attempt all tasks to be eligible to pass the unit.
More information can be found in Think Education Assessment Policy document on the Think Education website.
Resources Available to YOU:
- Academic writing guidelink
https://laureate- au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_20163_ 1&content_id=_2498847_1&mode=reset
- Writing & referencing: The link to the Learning and Academic Skills Unit (LASU) is on the left pulldown menu on the blackboard home page: https://laureate-
au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_20163_1&content_id=_2498847_1&mode=reset
LASU also provides a series of academic skills tutorials. Please contact XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
- Researching:A guide to researching is available on the library page http://library.think.edu.au/research_skills/.
Please contact the online and Pyrmont librarian for Health, Dawn Vaux (dvaux@laureate.net.au) if you would like further help or a tutorial on how to do research this way.
i https://laureate‐ au.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_20163_1&content_id=_2498858_1&mode=reset
Assignment Solution/Sample Answer
CHILD STUDY PORTFOLIO
Background:
Ebony died on November 3, 2007, when she was seven years old. Her death was confirmed to be the result of chronic hunger and maltreatment, according to an autopsy. On November 17, 2007, her parents were charged in connection with her death. Over the course of five weeks, the NSW Supreme Court in East Maitland heard evidence, and on June 23, 2009, a jury found her not guilty.
Her mother was found guilty of murder, but her father was found guilty of manslaughter.
The Community Services (Complaints, Reviews, and Monitoring) Act of 1993 is a law that governs how complaints, reviews, and monitoring are handled in the community. Our examination of the available materials elicited a number of questions.
a variety of concerns concerning the Department of Children and Families’ responsiveness to concerns about the child’s safety and well-being
As a result, I decided to launch an investigation into the situation.
Ebony died on November 3, 2007, at the age of seven. An autopsy determined that her death was the result of persistent starvation and abuse. Her parents were charged in connection with her death on November 17, 2007. The NSW Supreme Court in East Maitland heard evidence for five weeks before a jury ruled her not guilty on June 23, 2009. Her mother was convicted of murder, while her father was charged with manslaughter. At the time of her death in November 2007, my office had determined that her death was “reviewable” under Section 35 of the Civil Rights Act. The Community Services (Complaints, Reviews, and Monitoring) Act of 1993 regulates how complaints, reviews, and monitoring in the community are handled. A number of questions arose from our review of the accessible materials. In the weeks that followed, my office investigated Ebony’s and her family’s health, education, housing, and police records, as well as information kept by the Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care. Based on my study of these data, I decided to broaden my investigation to include the Departments of Education and Training, Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Housing, and the NSW Police Force’s actions in relation to Ebony and her siblings.
Introduction:
The concerns raised by the case of infant Ebony are investigated using a case study technique. The advantages of case study analysis influenced the use of this method. For starters, it is suggested that it facilitates a single concentration on the specific conditions.
As Cooper and Whittaker (2014) point out, a case study encourages the collecting of in-depth data about a specific occurrence, allowing researchers to go further into the case’s intricacies and permitting the use of a variety of data collection methodologies (Cooper & Whittaker, 2014).
An examination of the child protection system in Australia at the time is presented using the data gathered. The case’s emerging difficulties are then explored in light of child protection principles.
Method:
The case study was carried out by examining case records related to the case in which Ebony’s mother and father were charged. The analysis was informed by witness testimony, the presiding judge’s decision, and expert evidence offered in the case. Documents from the media on family members’ and neighbours’ perspectives, as well as how authorities reacted the child’s skills and shortcomings were also revealed as a result of the difficulties raised in the case. Australia has a strong protection system. Furthermore, publications examining how the child protection system failed received special attention. It completed its job efficiently at the time These reports were then examined through the eyes of a child psychologist. societal protection principles and obligations, as well as community expectations on child protection. As a result, the study’s recommendations are based on the findings of the study.
Analysis:
The material obtained from the case of infant Ebony reveals evidence of child abuse. Munro (2011) defines child abuse and neglect as any nonaccidental behaviours by caregivers, parents, and other adults that put the child at a reasonable danger of emotional, psychological, or physical harm, in order to better grasp the information. These types of actions might be either purposeful or unintended. They are classified as either omissions (neglect) or commissions (abuse).
According to this definition, the neighbours’ submissions indicating Ebony’s mother had neglected her imply that she had been neglected. Ebony was never seen in the company of another person, according to the neighbour. Leaving a youngster alone in the room was a severe problem for a child who need attention due to her slowed developmental rate.
Furthermore, child abuse is demonstrated in the submission that Ebony was diagnosed with autism and prescribed medication, but that she was never given the prescription. This evidence demonstrates that the child’s right to good health has been violated. In addition, evidence presented in court indicates that Ebony’s parents were not ready to allow her to attend school.
Furthermore, as the autopsy revealed, abandoning Ebony in an unsanitary room and refusing her sustenance constituted child abuse and neglect. According to the World Health Organization, neglect is defined as any incident that causes a parent to fail to do what is necessary to protect their kid from illness despite being in a position to do so. In this light, Ebony’s parents could have facilitated Ebony’s access to medicine, food, and education, but instead opted to keep her in seclusion until her death.
Discussion:
According to the neighbours’ submissions, Ebony’s death could have been avoided if the police had intervened sooner. Ebony would not have died if the Department of Community Services had intervened sooner. In fact, her development began to improve while she was in the hospital. The decision to have her removed from her parents was not made, according to the case report, because community service officials who were supposed to visit her and follow up on her case never did.
Child protection agencies, in particular, should have gotten information from the multi-agency team that had worked with Ebony in the hospital to figure out how to save her. In this light, it was the child protection agency’s shortcoming for failing to identify and handle the situation in a timely manner.
Munro (2011) points out that child protection organizations in Australia make the presumption that incidences of neglect and child abuse will always be reported. As a result, the case demonstrates a lack of a framework that would allow for proactive information gathering about a kid who is being abused by parents or caretakers. At the time, it was a failure on the part of the child protection system.
Ebony’s death also highlights the flaws in Australia’s existing child protection legislation. To begin, the system’s intervention is based on operational practice, which is tasked with recognizing dangers linked with children’s interactions with others, particularly caregivers or parents. The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) (‘CYPA’) addresses the requirement for engagement inquiry.
The problem with this provision is that it is founded on the assumption that children’s involvement risks can be predicted. In this light, it does not provide a foundation for identifying children at risk. Even when reports are made, as in Ebony’s case, the current system does not provide a solid foundation for inquiries that would determine the level of the risk and take the required steps to protect the child’s well-being (Munro, 2005).
Ebony had been neglected by her parents for a long time before she died. Responsible child protection authorities would have gathered information from community service workers to confirm the condition of the child whose well-being was compromised by parental negligence. The authority, on the other hand, did not take any proactive measures at the time. Following Ebony’s death, the agency issued a report claiming that the social workers were negligent.
In response to allegations, financial choices are made.
The special session also investigated into how the Diocese’s reaction to claims of abuse at the Home was impacted by financial motives. We discovered that Diocese officials, including the archbishop, limited cash payments for residents due to concerns about the Diocese’s financial situation. Some plaintiffs were refused recompense since the Diocese’s officials claimed that such claims couldn’t longer be funded. Because when Church learned of complaints and convictions for clerical misconduct at the Homes, it held a public hearing to look into how it enforced its canonical canon. The Diocese of Hanover, where the abuse took place, and the Archdiocese of Northumberland, where a member of the clergy was residing when the accusations against him surfaced, were both involved (Chin, 2020).
The results of our inquiry
Our first review of agency files indicated concerns regarding the Government agencies of Community Programs, Development and Skills, Ageing, Disabilities and Residential Care, Accommodation, and the NSW Police Force’s conduct in relation to this household.
In respect to the family, we also evaluated relevant information given by the Macquarie South West Area Healthcare System and the South East Sydney Area Healthcare System. A overview of our prosecution’s findings and suggestions for each of the five organizations we looked at is provided below. We’ve has included details on how the organizations dealt with the problems we discovered throughout our research. Significant efforts and programmes that relevant organizations had implemented to strengthen their delivery of public services to abuse victims and their families were considered in our final report’s conclusions. We also considered the Special Commissioner of Inquiry into Children’s Services in NSW, and the fact that the inquiry’s conclusions will be delivered to the New south Wales government by Dec 31, 2008.
In the framework of Judge James Wood’s inquiry, we advised him on the status of our inquiry, and a duplicate of our official report was sent to appropriate Ministries, Filmmaker, and Justice Woods.
Conclusion
The death of Ebony might be prevented if the juvenile justice system in existence had been more aggressive, comprehensive, and diverse in addressing all dangers. The fact that several notifications were made but were reduced or disregarded exposes the kid safeguarding system’s flaws. The findings of Justice Cooper’s inquiry, as well as the NSW Government’s adoption of the great majority of the inquiry’s conclusions, will result in a significantly altered child protection system in this state over the next several years. There are always dangers and problems associated with any big shift. Changes to the youth justice system in New South Wales are no exception. It is helpful to consider some of the potential issues that may occur in the reform scenario in order to mitigate these hazards. The implementation of the many requirements for the new this double system will be a crucial challenge. The commission proposed a revitalised system based on appropriate provision of a wide range of universal and targeted services by quasi and governing entities. Children Happiness Units will be at the heart of these services, collaborating with DoCS as a ‘last choice’ provider for children at risk of serious harm, as well as Region Intake and Community Resources and Primary Prevention Services for children who really are at risk. The expanding participation of a variety of state and non-institutions has the potential to make these organisations more responsive to the needs of youngsters on a local level, guaranteeing that more families receive appropriate and timely assistance. Ebony and her sisters’ situation also demonstrate the essential need of good data exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. The legislative framework will not only require effective coordination and knowledge interchange as a result of the changes, but it will also be unable to function without it. The effective operation of the new system will depend on how the legislation’s provisions for information sharing are implemented, particularly in respect to interaction between both the Child Welfare Units as well as between these Units and DoCS and the RIRS. The planning that is now ongoing in response to these challenges, as well as the assessment of the programs’ results after they are implemented, are both critical.
References:
- Bowen, C. (2019) Traditional Articulation Therapy (http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/TraditionalTherapy.htm)
- Chin, S. & Finnegan, K. (2020) Minimal Pairs in the Perception and Production of Speech by Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users, Research on spoken language processing Laboratory
- Grunwell, P. (2018). Phonological assessment of child speech (PACS). Windsor: N.F.E.R.- Nelson.
- Hodson, B.W., & Paden, E.P. (2019). Targeting intelligible speech: A phonological approach to remediation. Boston: College Hill.
- Ingram, D. (2018) Phonological disability in Children, 2nd edition (London:: Cole & Whurr)
- Klein, E. (2018) Phonological/Traditional Approaches to Articulation Therapy: A processing Group Comparison, LaNGUAGE AND Hearing Services in Schools Vol. 27, 10/2018
- Magoula, E (2020). The acquisition of phonological system in Modern Greek: The case of consonants [in Greek]. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Athens
- Μennen, I. & Okalidou, A. (2017). Greek speech acquisition. In S. McLeon (Ed.), The International Guide to Speech Acquisition. Clifton Park, NY: Thompson Delmar Learning (USA), pp.398-411.