CHILD and Family Services Ballarat, commonly referred to as Cafs, is a community services organisation that provides a range of programs and services to children, young people and families who are vulnerable or in need of support.<\/p>\n
Located in Lydiard Street North, it aims to prevent the need for the removal of children and young people from their families, and to promote positive family life and community connectedness.<\/p>\n
Allan Joy, CEO of Cafs said the organisation formalised its guidance pillars during a review of its 150th anniversary in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of those pillars is Legacy \u2013 past, the present and the future and we see the research as a commitment to the future,\u201d Mr Joy said.<\/p>\n
To that end, as part of the Central Highlands Children and Youth Area Partnership Research Collaboration, the service provider funds and hosts three Federation University PhD students.<\/p>\n
Mr Joy said they undertake their research as students of Fed Uni and are supervised academically by the university as well as coming under industry supervisors at Cafs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intention of the Research Collaboration partnership is for the PhD candidates to come up with research which will inform practice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope they are learning from what they are doing and will come back with recommendations.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the three year program they have access to the family service\u2019s former clients, after fulfilling the ethics requirements, for research and collection of data.<\/p>\n
On completion of the project Mr Joy said the organisation will positively consider repeating the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current researchers are committed and talented people absolutely dedicated to what they are doing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would argue that its been an enormously successful undertaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
The establishment is committed to research because it is seen as the way of the future.<\/p>\n
The intention is to consistently study what is being done and the services being provided with an aim to continually demonstrate outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current thesis topics were selected by the Research Collaboration after being identified as priorities by the local community,\u201d Mr Joy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can produce better ways of providing our services as a result of this research then this is going to be a win for our clients.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHILD and Family Services Ballarat, commonly referred to as Cafs, is a community services organisation that provides a range of programs and services to children, young people and families who are vulnerable or in need of support. Located in Lydiard Street North, it aims to prevent the need for the removal of children and young […]<\/p>\n