Child and Family Focus SA (CAFFSA) is the South Australian peak body representing the needs and interests of children, young people and families connected with or at risk of entering the child protection system, and the not-for-profit, non-government organisations who support them.
Our Mission
An inclusive community where all children, young people and families are safe, secure, and supported to grow and flourish
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Our Purpose
To represent the needs and interests of children, young people and families connected with or at risk of entering the child protection system, and the not-for-profit, non-government organisations who support them
News and Events
News
CAFFSA Board Member Linley Shine voted Mayor of Port Augusta
Port Augusta’s new Elected Members have been officially sworn in and are looking forward to ensuring the city fully capitalises on their future vision, strong connection, and leadership capabilities.
Linley Shine was sworn in as Port Augusta’s new Mayor, taking over from Brett Benbow. Nine other elected members were also officially appointed to Port Augusta City Council.
Elected Members returning from the previous council are Louise Foote, John Naisbitt, Sunny Singh, Phillip Brown and Maralyn Marsh. The newly elected members are Sam Bates, Mark Myers, Michael McKinley and Nora Bennett.
Ms Shine had served on the Port Augusta Council for four years prior to successfully being elected as Mayor.
“I am so honoured and privileged to be given this opportunity and am grateful for the support from the Port Augusta community.” Mayor Shine stated. “We now have some hard work ahead of us, however through constructive, support and collaborative efforts we can, and will, move Port Augusta forward.”
“My long professional career has involved working across both the government and not-for-profit sectors in the areas of corporate governance, social policy, and sound engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders across regional and remote South Australia.”
“I have extensive experience in leadership and representation, and importantly, I walk the talk and strive for excellence and accountability. I will bring a stronger, consultative, community voice to the role of Mayor, and that is what my leadership will focus on.”
Port Augusta CEO John Banks thanked the community for their voting support during this year’s Council election.
CAFFSA Board Member Leanne Haddad appointed Director of Centacare Catholic Family Services.
Managers Development Forum and Commissioning Ceremony 2022
Managers Development Forum and Commissioning Ceremony 2022
Child protection and family support services specialist Leanne Haddad has been appointed Director of Centacare Catholic Family Services.
Archbishop of Adelaide Patrick O’Regan today announced Leanne will commence in the new role on January 3, 2023.
A mother-of-three, Leanne has for the last year been Deputy Director, providing leadership, corporate and service delivery support to Director Pauline Connelly. Pauline assumed the role after the retirement of longtime director Dale West in early 2021. After guiding Centacare through a period of significant change, Pauline has chosen to return to her substantive position of Deputy Director.
Leanne said together they will continue to lead in partnership and shape service growth in-line with community need and informed by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. “I have been very fortunate to have been mentored firstly by Dale and most recently Pauline who is extremely giving with her knowledge and has a genuine commitment to developing other leaders,’’ Leanne said. “I will continue to build on the solid foundation and history they have created and embrace this opportunity with energy and heart for Centacare, and an ongoing commitment to learning. “The Catholic Social Teaching principles align with those of grassroots social work which is where I began my career. “My 26 years in community and social services has provided me with the privilege of working with vulnerable children, young people and families, and I will carry the lessons they’ve taught me into this role.’’
Leanne has worked in both government and non-government services across operational child protection positions, policy and planning, learning and development, contract management, service design, leadership and executive roles. Leanne joined Centacare in 2017 as Executive Manager of Children’s Services and turned at-risk contracts into highly successful programs which exceeded key performance indicators and outcomes, and increased service scope and funding.
In recent years, she has established therapeutic family support services and led numerous child protection initiatives and successful tenders, including the $20.7 million RESTORE Intensive Family Services – the largest service of its kind in South Australia. Through commitment and strategic planning, Leanne helped grow Centacare Foster Care from a handful of carers into one of the state’s leading providers of in-care support for children aged 0 to 18 years. This year, Leanne has led Centacare’s corporate restructure and administration review to implement staffing and program efficiencies.
Chair of Centacare’s Child Protection Committee, Leanne is a Compass Catholic Community School Advisory Board member and board secretary of Child and Family Focus SA, the peak Body for NGOs that support community services for vulnerable families and individuals.
Centacare supports more than 20,000 people annually across 67 services and 31 sites in metropolitan and regional South Australia. “Centacare is a vital part of the local Church’s mission and commitment to serving the marginalised in our community,” Archbishop O’Regan said. “I thank Pauline for her dedication and professionalism as both director and in her previous roles, and I look forward to working with Leanne when she takes up her new position next year.”
In welcoming Leanne to the role of Director, Pauline said it had been an “enormous privilege” to lead Centacare for the past 18 months. “Leanne and the Executive Managers have been an amazing support to me; there is a wonderful sense of team that we experience at Centacare, something I think is forged on common values along with a shared belief in what we are doing and where we are going,’’ she said.
“I look forward to that same experience next year, along with the time and space to focus more on some of the things I did previously as Deputy.”
“We have much to look forward to together, in the knowledge that the most important role for us all is that of providing a service for our clients, so that in the end, they are the beneficiaries of everything we do.”
South Australian Child Protection Awards
CAFFSA was a proud sponsor of the Outstanding Service Award – Non-government organisations for the 2022 Child Protection Awards. Life Without Barrier’s MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Program Team won the award, with the Child and Family Wellbeing Service of the NPY Women’s Council and Centacare Catholic Family Services’ Breathing Space the other finalists.
The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of children and young people, carers, volunteers, staff and organisations from across the child protection sector. Delivered by the Department for Child Protection (DCP) in partnership with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) the event received 299 nominations across the 11 categories (a 60% increase on last year.)
https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/child-protection-initiatives/sa-child-protection-awards
Upcoming training and events
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Mar301 day, 09:30 AM ACDT - 04:30 PM ACDTChild safe environments are safe and friendly settings where children feel respected, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Children and young people have a right to be safe and protected at all times. The Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 requires certain organisations provide a child safe environment.
- $110.00 excl. GST
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Apr271 day, 09:30 AM ACST - 04:30 PM ACSTChild safe environments are safe and friendly settings where children feel respected, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Children and young people have a right to be safe and protected at all times. The Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 requires certain organisations provide a child safe environment.
- $110.00 excl. GST
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Jun11 day, 09:30 AM ACST - 04:30 PM ACSTChild safe environments are safe and friendly settings where children feel respected, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Children and young people have a right to be safe and protected at all times. The Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 requires certain organisations provide a child safe environment.
- $110.00 excl. GST
Child and Family Focus SA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, the Kaurna and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded and this was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We appreciate and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We believe diversity of all kinds makes our teams, services, organisations and communities stronger and more effective.