Child protection tertiary support services

Child protection tertiary support services support children and young people who are referred by the department for interventions focussed on assessed needs. Tertiary support services and individual interventions provided by non-government organisations are coordinated by Child Safety Service Centres (CSSCs) based on case plan goals.

These services are primarily targeted at children and young people to reduce their emotional distress, improve their relationships (with carers, peers and family), learn new skills in coping with the challenges of daily life, and improve problem solving skills and overall wellbeing.

The key objectives of Child Protection Support Services are to:

• increase the stability of care placements
• deliver specialist sexual abuse counselling services for children and young people and their non-offending family members and/or carers
• provide mental health therapeutic interventions for children and young people
• support families and/or carers where our ongoing intervention is required
• support young people transitioning from statutory care or who have left care and need help to live independently
• keep young people connected to kin, culture, community and Country.

Child Protection Support services provide counselling, emotional support and practical assistance to children, young people, their carers and family members at times of emotional distress, or where the conduct of a carer or parent causes disruption to the child or young person's living situation.

For more information, refer to the Child protection (support services) investment specification.