Work

We Fled Gunfire to Protect Our Children: Reimagining Child Protection in Australia for South Sudanese Communities

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article reports on action research which sought the perspectives of South Sudanese families and communities about their experiences and understanding of child protection. The research was grounded in cycles of interviews, consultation, and participation observation with a total of ninety-seven participants which included South Sudanese leaders and families in Australia and in Uganda. The resulting data offers a layered insight into the pressures families navigate and the strengths on which they draw to keep children connected to community and culture in Australia and the importance they place on community led approaches in which protection and safety are understood as collective responsibilities. The findings show that the collective strengths they highlight are often misunderstood within Western child protection systems. The paper concludes that meaningful partnership and developmental ways of working are essential for building trust and designing approaches that keep children safe within culture.

Source: Social Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/socsci15030213

Authors: Caroline Speirs, Maria Harries

Institution: The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Child Welfare and Adoption

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172