Abstract Service user involvement in service and policy development is vital in order to provide services that meet their needs. In the sensitive and challenging area of statutory child protection, where service users are often marginalized and disempowered, such involvement is likely to be contested and complex. It is, nonetheless, of great importance in order to provide effective responses to the protective needs of children and to the needs of their families, in order to ensure child safety. This qualitative study explores the participation of parents in statutory child protection policy processes in the state of Queensland, Australia. The aims of the study were to understand the Queensland statutory child protection policy context, and to explore the issue of parent participation in policy processes from a number of different perspectives. An analysis of a range of Department of Child Safety (DChS) policy related documents, from the period 1999 – 2007, was undertaken. Focus group interviews were undertaken with statutory child protection practitioners and policy officers, and with non government child and family welfare practitioners. Individual semi structured interviews were undertaken with a number of parents who are statutory child protection service users. What has emerged is a picture of a service system where parents are likely to be excluded at all levels of decision making. The study found that following inquiries into the failure of the service system, in particular the Crime and Misconduct Commission Inquiry (CMC), DChS has emerged as an individualistic child focused service system with a focus on forensic investigation, risk assessment and management, and with a corresponding loss of focus on family support. The findings indicate that how DChS has redefined its approach to child protection impacts significantly on how parents are engaged by the service system. They highlight inequities in the way service user participation rights have been incorporated into policy and enacted in practice, and the lack of recognition afforded parents as service users and stakeholders in the service system. The findings also suggest that DChS policy processes are focused more on progressing reform agendas and efficient service delivery than they are on service user involvement. Negative portrayals and perceptions of parents, and a perceived lack of understanding of the nexus between disadvantage and child welfare, were also found to contribute to their exclusion. The parent interviews provided valuable insights into their experiences of the service system, indicating the sorts of issues they are likely to bring to the policy table. However, the findings illustrate that they lack the necessary information, support and encouragement to participate, and their experiences of the service system have left them mistrustful of engaging in policy processes, should the opportunity arise. Overall, the findings show that while there is likely to be a number of benefits to parent participation in policy processes, and parents themselves have an interest in participating, there are many barriers to this. While a few potential strategies to engage parents in policy processes were identified, these were often also perceived to have limitations. It is considered that a comprehensive socio-structural approach would be needed in order to reposition parents as participators in policy and service development.

The principle of child protection and the efforts to protect children from abuse and neglect in pre-modern societies have different notions. According to De Mause, the past was a barbaric place for children and the history of childhood is a nightmare (De Mause, 1995, p. 1). In 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child outlined the fundamental rights of children, including the right to be protected from economic exploitation (Convention on the Rights of the Child: 1990). This study explores issues of Child Protection Policy in humanitarian settings, and focuses on how the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected its implementation in South Sudan Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Camp settlements. This study is underlined by the theory of Participatory Communication while making use of concepts like Communicative Competence and Community Engagement. A case study and qualitative approach method is chosen for this research because it explores  and captures the uniqueness and complexities of South Sudan IDPs Camp in “real life” contexts  through systematic inquiry and data analysis (Geertz, 1973). The primary research tool of this study makes use of both primary and secondary sources of information. Qualitative research methodology through literature review, semi-structured interviews are used to gather data from respondents because qualitative research method aligns with the aim of finding out “how” and “why” (Kulothungan & Oham, 2019, p.12). Public statements, reports, policy documents and other resources are also used. Results from the empirical data suggest that Child Protection services in IDP camp settlements have been greatly affected by COVID-19 mitigating measures because schools and Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) are not operational as before and children are not getting the maximum support and services that they need. These measures have significantly affected the wellbeing of children in key areas including education, food and nutrition, gender and mental health. The study gives crucial insights into how stakeholders can address challenges in implementing Child Protection Policies during a global pandemic and in humanitarian settings.