Independent Family Advocacy and Support available across Victoria

As we begin National Child Protection Week, families involved with Child Protection have greater support than ever before, with Victoria Legal Aid’s Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) service now available everywhere across the state.

This unique non-legal advocacy service finalised its expansion today, rolling out to the Gippsland and Bayside Peninsula regions. This means families across Victoria can now access independent help to navigate the child protection system and prevent issues from escalating.

IFAS connects parents and primary carers with dedicated, independent advocates who help them understand their rights and responsibilities, communicate with Child Protection and identify goals for their children’s care.

Free, confidential and voluntary, IFAS is not a legal service, but can refer people to legal advice and other supports if needed.

‘The expansion is a significant step forward in ensuring all parents dealing with Child Protection have access to the supports they need to feel heard, understand their rights and be part of decisions about their children,’ said Associate Director Jackie Anders, from our Child Protection team.

‘This will create real and positive change for the child protection system and we encourage parents who think they may benefit from IFAS support to get in touch.’

Supporting families since 2018

Launched in 2018 as a pilot program in limited areas of Victoria, IFAS was found to divert at least one in five families from reaching court, with both parents and child protection workers seeing the benefits of this independent support.

The unique value of IFAS was recognised last year with funding for statewide expansion provided by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner.

The statewide expansion began earlier this year, rolling out across metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong and the Barwon region, Horsham and the Wimmera South-West in March, then to Shepparton (Goulburn), Wodonga (Ovens Murray) and Mildura (Mallee) in August.

IFAS Manager Robyn Buchanan has seen the benefits of IFAS over many years.

‘Having started with IFAS as a senior advocate and now as manager of a team of advocates based across Victoria, it is wonderful to see the growth of our service and know we can help more families in need,’ she said.

‘We see first-hand people who feel really disempowered by the system, get some of their power back, as well as their autonomy and confidence as parents and carers.

‘They might start at a point where they feel they can’t even talk to a child protection practitioner and with our support, they’re calling services themselves, they’re fully engaged and that is incredibly rewarding to see.’

IFAS offers more intensive support to First Nations families, parents with an intellectual disability, families from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, parents subject to an unborn report, and parents who experienced child protection involvement when they were children.

Guided by lived experience

'Guided by our lived experience reference group, Shared Experience and Support (SEaS), we are committed to providing inclusive and accessible services so people get help in a way that works for them,’ said Robyn.

‘The funding has also allowed us to expand the role of our lived experience consultant, further embedding their crucial knowledge and unique perspective into our everyday work.’

Tanya is a SEaS member, supporting continuous improvement of our services to meet the needs of the people we work with.

‘Having an advocate who was knowledgeable, empathetic and non-judgemental was invaluable to my experience in dealing with Child Protection,’ she said.

‘Prior to having an advocate, I was alone and struggling. Making IFAS available across Victoria means more people can now be supported through their dealings with child protection, which can be scary and daunting on your own.

‘I joined SEaS firstly because I wanted to give back. Lived experience is important because our experience of the child protection system makes us experts on what it is like dealing with the system and what changes are needed. I'm passionate about advocating for changes that will support families rather than punish them.’

Media enquiries

Contact Senior Communications Advisor Crys Ja on 0457 483 780 or crys.ja@vla.vic.gov.au