Lismore has been selected as one of four sites in Australia to develop, trial and refine a new case management system.  CARRS is the Common Approach to Assessment, Referral and Support project.

The development of a Common Approach is a National Framework project under the Seeing Early Warning Signs and Taking Early Action national priority. The Common Approach project is led by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and overseen by the Common Approach to Assessment, Referral and Support (CAARS) Taskforce on which NSW is represented by the Department of Family and Community Services, Community Services and the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA).   

The Common Approach is designed to improve identification of early indicators of the needs of at-risk children and their families by universal and secondary prevention services such as general practitioners, teachers, nurses and childcare workers. It is not intended to replace risk assessment, mandatory reporting and referral to the statutory child protection system.

As part of the Common Approach a Common Assessment tool has been developed, for use by professionals working with vulnerable families, to promote a common terminology and approach to responding to identified needs.

For more information, visit http://www.interrelate.org.au/pages/centres/lismore.php