Out of Home Care: Is there a Dr in the house?

Dr Susan Webster, an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of General Practice, presented a research seminar to members of the Parliament of Victoria on 23 March 2016.

The seminar, titled ‘Is there a doctor in the house: A 21st century perspective on Victorian government responses to the health care needs of children and young people in statutory out-of-home care’ was introduced by Ms Maree Edwards MLA, chair of the Parliament’s Family and Community Development Committee.

Dr Webster currently holds a Victorian Parliamentary Library Fellowship to explore the history of government responses to the health care needs of children and young people in statutory out-of-home care in Victoria.  Her Library Fellowship Paper 'Children and young people in statutory out-of-home care: health needs and health care in the 21st century', was launched at the seminar and is available from the Parliamentary Library’s website.

The paper reviews the history of government responses since 1990 and examines the important legislative and policy questions facing Victorian governments.  The social history of medicine in Victoria relating to this significant population of children informs academics, clinicians and politicians alike.

Victorian Parliamentary Library Fellowships provide academics, scholars, PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers with an opportunity to undertake research to advance parliamentary and political studies in Victoria as well as address issues of public policy. Library Fellows use the Parliamentary Library’s historical collection and resources and are invited to deliver forums and papers of topical interest to members of parliament.

The research paper is available here for download. For further information, contact Dr Susan M. Webster Email: s.webster@unimelb.edu.au.