Making the change to child protection

Making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children is the driver of many people who turn to a career in child protection.
For Christopher Gurupira, who began his career before emigrating from Zimbabwe, creating safety for children and re-uniting families are the biggest rewards.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing's (DFFH) "Go Where You are Needed" campaign encourages people to consider a career in child protection.
DFFH Inner Gippsland area manager Karen Sutherland has spent 40 years working in the social work and child protection field.
Dr Sutherland said she knew of many stories of child protection practitioners going "above and beyond" for vulnerable young people and their families.
"I've seen practitioners show enormous care and commitment to the children and young people we work with. We have amazing practitioners working in communities, and I've got huge admiration for them and what they do for children."
Dr Sutherland said one of the best parts of her job was seeing children safely reunified with parents or placed with family and able to maintain important connections with extended family and community.
"It's definitely an incredibly challenging job, but we have so many rewarding moments as well," she said.
"Recently I was involved in a case of a young Aboriginal boy who had been in out of home care. With thoughtful practice, it was possible for him to be placed with his younger brother, in the care of an Aboriginal family.
"He's now able to grow up with family and remain connected to his community, relatives and importantly, his culture. That was a sensitive piece of work with a very positive outcome."
Christopher is part of the Gippsland team, based at the Bairnsdale office, after immigrating to Australia.He said his job was very fulfilling, getting to work with children, young people and families on a daily basis.
Christopher said his favourite part of working in child protection was knowing there was safety again for children, and the ability to reunify families and close cases.
"Being able to have that last conversation with a parent and say, 'well done on your hard work – the case is closing'," he said. "You walk out of that house, or hang up that phone, and know that you've made a positive difference."
"I've had cases where parents are not part of the children's lives, and I've contacted them, built trust with them, and supported them to get back into contact with their children.
"I've at times worked with parents who haven't seen their children in several years, but who are empowered to build that relationship, with support from child protection. Seeing the moment parent and child reunite is extremely emotional."
Christopher said he understood child protection presented stress to clients, but he enjoyed seeing changes in clients, and how children and young people's lives could transform.
He said he was mindful when working with children, young people and families of the negative conception of child protection.
"Every interaction I have, I want each child to have the best childhood possible, the best they can have, so I work towards supporting that becoming a reality," Christopher said. "I want every client of mine to look back and see child protection as not a negative, but as having had a positive impact on their life."
For more information about Child Protection jobs visit www.vic.gov.au/child-protection-jobs.