Launch of the SCARF Case Management System & Online Learning Package
It was with great pleasure that Barnardos Australia together with The School of Social Sciences & International Studies, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences invited Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW to launch the SCARF Case Management System & Online Learning Package. The launch was held at the Tyree Room, Scientia, University of NSW on Wednesday, 14th May 2008. Amongst the distinguished guests present was the Hon.Kevin Greene Minister for Community Services NSW & Ms Jennifer Mason, Director-General Dept. of Community Services. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Richard Henry welcomed the gathering while the launch was chaired by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor James Donald. 
Launching the Supporting Children & Responding to Families case management system, Professor Bashir said that “Though rich & bountiful, Australia still has substantial levels of poverty & disadvantage”. International research clearly shows the way ahead in “effective interventions for families in need of support” must be based on “rigorous research” and guided practice which ensures “comprehensive, sensitive assessment”. SCARF she noted provides this framework and further enhances usability with the development of its electronic system. e-SCARF enables caseworkers more speedy access to data and allows workers in rural/remote locations to be trained more easily through electronic based tools. In conclusion, Professor Bashir applauded the far-sighted investment of developing a guided practice tool such as SCARF & its electronic system which will pay “positive dividends” not only at present but continually overtime.
The keynote address was delivered by Kerryn Boland NSW Office for Children, the Children’s Guardian. The focus of Ms Boland’s speech was the Significance of Assessment and Case Management in Child and Family Services. In her address Ms Boland pointed out the importance of SCARF as a guided practice tool which provides the framework for “strength based assessment within the family setting”. She went on to say that built on a strong foundation of research & guided practice, SCARF has helped promote best practice principles within the Child & Family Services sector. Ms Boland stated that “practitioners need to be accountable not only to ourselves but also to the kids & families we work with”. It’s about “caring carefully”. The SCARF case management system she concluded provides all the necessary ingredients to achieve the level of caring deserved by our vulnerable children – “And most importantly remember the result, the outcome of our guided practice tools, our records & our caring”. Click here to read the full text.
CEO of Barnardos Australia, Louise Voigt emphasised the importance of the research partnership between Barnardos & the University of NSW especially in terms of its impact on future directions in the family support sector. This collaborative effort was made possible by a grant from the Australian Research Council.
Dr Elizabeth Fernandez Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences explained the major advantages of the introduction of SCARF into the practice area. 
Dr Fernandez conducted the Australian research study which led to the adaptation of the UK Children In Need Assessment and Planning Framework to a more family & worker friendly Australian casework model which became known as SCARF – Supporting Children And Responding to Families.
Associate Professor Rogelia Pe-Pua Head of the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, proposed the Vote of thanks.
A promotional DVD allowing users to sample the electronic version of SCARF was produced for the launch by SCARF Australia. Click on e-SCARF to experience this interactive demonstration!
Conferences
SCARF representatives will be present at the following conferences around Australia and available to discuss any queries you may have
CAFWWA |
15th to 17th May 2007 |
Brisbane |
SNAICC |
19th to 21st September 2007 |
Adelaide |
NFCA |
5th to 7th October 2007 |
Melbourne |
ACCAN |
30th October to |
Gold Coast, QLD |
8th International Looking After Children Conference:
Transforming Lives - Improving Outcomes
7-9 July 2008
Keble College, Oxford, UK
The 8th International Looking After Children Conference is an essential three day event designed for researchers, academics, practitioners, and policy makers and is one of the most important conferences in the child, youth and family sector.
The 2008 conference, ‘Transforming Lives – Improving Outcomes’, will focus on effective policies and programmes to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people from an international perspective. While the emphasis is on children in public care, the themes cover issues of significance to all children in need. Following on from the previous conferences in this series, the event promises to be highly successful and an excellent opportunity to share research findings with international colleagues.
Registration opens 1 November 2007 - Express your interest now!
Only £525 for full registration (3 days) including en suite accommodation (7 & 8 July) and all meals at Keble College in beautiful Oxford, UK.
A small number of bursaries may be available for people visiting from developing countries.
Call for papers now open – closes 30 September 2007
Use the website link below or contact the conference organiser using the email link for more information
Website link
Email link
Tel: 44 (0) 1509 228368
Fax: 44 (0) 1509 223943
Download a copy of the conference flyer here (488Kb PDF)
SCARF Records
All SCARF Records have been recently updated and can be found on this site under Tool Kit.
e-SCARF
e-SCARF is a fully electronic version with the capacity to collate casework statistics as well as service output and client outcomes measures.