Ten Years On: Views from the Child and Family Support Sector Post-Carmody

In this article, the views of practitioners in the child and family sector in North Queensland, Australia are explored. Drawing on mixed methods research, we examined what practitioners saw as changes, challenges, and innovations in their field of practice in the past 5 years. Data collection included a survey and a focus group interview with child and family practitioners. Using a grounded theory analysis, we outlined changes and challenges identified by participants that included an increased need to navigate constraints relating to staffing instabilities, practice complexities, and insufficient resources to address client needs. Participant accounts highlighted the complex reality of service delivery within Australia's current sociopolitical environment. Addressing systemic barriers to recruiting and retaining staff is critical.IMPLICATIONSMounting pressures on frontline child and family practitioners indicate a need for robust systemic responses.Addressing tensions between rising client demand and limited services requires improved government funding for Queensland’s child and family sector.Promoting workforce sustainability is essential and requires strategies that support recruitment and retention of skilled welfare practitioners.