Search

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

ADepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) management of the Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is gaining international interest. With slow disease progression across three infested farms over four years, the world is watching to see how Australia’s industry is adjusting. Panama TR4 is one of the greatest threats to worldwide banana production. Deemed not eradicable, there’s no cure and its rapid spread overseas through commercial banana growing regions has devastated industries and livelihoods. First discovered in Australia in 1997 in the Northern Territory TR4 wiped out commercial banana production there. In FNQ, it was discovered on a farm in 2015, then two nearby additional farms in 2017 and 2018. FNQ produces 94% of Australia’s bananas and with an annual farm gate value of over $600M is the region’s main economic driver. Since 2015, DAF committed to a collaborative approach with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council ensuring key stakeholders all work towards protecting the banana industry. DAF ensured all the elements worked together – biosecurity, research and development, diagnostics, and Panama TR4 education. DAF encouraged stakeholders’ active participation to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. Growers are now ‘leaning in’ to the TR4 conversation to learn how they can be better prepared. The situation is dynamic and DAF’s biosecurity practices rely upon rigorous scientific knowledge that helps us to manage the disease in response to regulatory, grower and industry needs. The strong partnership between government and industry, with committed stakeholders, is giving Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with Panama TR4 and minimise its impact. In this presentation Panama TR4 Program Leader, Rhiannon Evans will share DAF’s experiences in the containment of Panama TR4 - the why and how, and lessons learned as we break new ground in the management of the disease in Australia.

In March 2015, Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (TR4), was detected on a single farm in Australia’s major banana growing area in north Queensland. This area accounts for 95% of Australian banana production, valued at approximately AU$600 million annually. The soil borne pathogen produces chlamydospores that can survive for decades. It is commonly spread by movement of infected plant material, infested soil and water. There is no cure or treatment for Panama disease tropical race 4. Biosecurity Queensland, part of Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), in partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), mounted a major emergency response. The objectives of the response were to delimit disease distribution in Queensland, prevent disease spread from the affected property, and to encourage active participation in the response to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. The infested property and a linked property remain under quarantine. Initially the affected properties were returned to trade under strict biosecurity conditions. In October 2016, both properties were purchased by the ABGC, all banana plants on the properties were destroyed and risk mitigation measures to prevent disease spread remain in place. This presentation describes the strategies, based on rigorous scientific knowledge and Queensland’s regulatory framework, being deployed in the emergency response program. The strong partnership between government and industry, with commitment from all stakeholders, gives Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with TR4 and minimise its impact.

In March 2015, Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (TR4), was detected on a single farm in Australia’s major banana growing area in north Queensland. This area accounts for 95% of Australian banana production, valued at approximately AU$600 million annually. The soil borne pathogen produces chlamydospores that can survive for decades. It is commonly spread by movement of infected plant material, infested soil and water. There is no cure or treatment for Panama disease tropical race 4. Biosecurity Queensland, part of Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), in partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), mounted a major emergency response. The objectives of the response were to delimit disease distribution in Queensland, prevent disease spread from the affected property, and to encourage active participation in the response to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. The infested property and a linked property remain under quarantine. Initially the affected properties were returned to trade under strict biosecurity conditions. In October 2016, both properties were purchased by the ABGC, all banana plants on the properties were destroyed and risk mitigation measures to prevent disease spread remain in place. This presentation describes the strategies, based on rigorous scientific knowledge and Queensland’s regulatory framework, being deployed in the emergency response program. The strong partnership between government and industry, with commitment from all stakeholders, gives Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with TR4 and minimise its impact.

In March 2015, Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (TR4), was detected on a single farm in Australia’s major banana growing area in north Queensland. This area accounts for 95% of Australian banana production, valued at approximately AU$600 million annually. The soil borne pathogen produces chlamydospores that can survive for decades. It is commonly spread by movement of infected plant material, infested soil and water. There is no cure or treatment for Panama disease tropical race 4. Biosecurity Queensland, part of Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), in partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), mounted a major emergency response. The objectives of the response were to delimit disease distribution in Queensland, prevent disease spread from the affected property, and to encourage active participation in the response to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. The infested property and a linked property remain under quarantine. Initially the affected properties were returned to trade under strict biosecurity conditions. In October 2016, both properties were purchased by the ABGC, all banana plants on the properties were destroyed and risk mitigation measures to prevent disease spread remain in place. This presentation describes the strategies, based on rigorous scientific knowledge and Queensland’s regulatory framework, being deployed in the emergency response program. The strong partnership between government and industry, with commitment from all stakeholders, gives Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with TR4 and minimise its impact.

In March 2015, Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (TR4), was detected on a single farm in Australia’s major banana growing area in north Queensland. This area accounts for 95% of Australian banana production, valued at approximately AU$600 million annually. The soil borne pathogen produces chlamydospores that can survive for decades. It is commonly spread by movement of infected plant material, infested soil and water. There is no cure or treatment for Panama disease tropical race 4. Biosecurity Queensland, part of Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), in partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), mounted a major emergency response. The objectives of the response were to delimit disease distribution in Queensland, prevent disease spread from the affected property, and to encourage active participation in the response to facilitate industry resilience, recovery and sustainability. The infested property and a linked property remain under quarantine. Initially the affected properties were returned to trade under strict biosecurity conditions. In October 2016, both properties were purchased by the ABGC, all banana plants on the properties were destroyed and risk mitigation measures to prevent disease spread remain in place. This presentation describes the strategies, based on rigorous scientific knowledge and Queensland’s regulatory framework, being deployed in the emergency response program. The strong partnership between government and industry, with commitment from all stakeholders, gives Queensland a fighting chance to live sustainably with TR4 and minimise its impact.

Background: The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people is a public health and social care priority, and there is evidence of higher rates of mental health disorders, poor subjective wellbeing, and suicide attempts within this group when compared to the general population (1-3). Schools are a key site for supporting mental health and wellbeing, but whilst governments continue to make significant progress in school-based provision (4-6) there are limited services specifically for care-experienced children and young people (7). This is despite policy directives stating that ‘vulnerable’ populations must have equal access to high quality provision (8, 9). Addressing this is challenging, as there is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for this population (7, 10) and a dearth of understanding as to how the educational system might work with health and social care systems to implement evidence-based approaches, particularly at key educational transition points, such as the transition to post-16 education (11). This presentation will introduce initial findings from an empirical research study which aims to understand experiences of delivering and receiving mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people in secondary schools and Further Education (FE) Colleges in Wales, in order to develop recommendations to enhance service quality and ensure equitable access. Methods: The study draws on mixed research methods across three phases of work. Firstly, a series of consultation events with care-experienced children and young people, foster carers and adoptive parents, and practitioners from social care, education, and health, identify particular difficulties or perceived gaps in support systems and services from the perspectives of different stakeholder groups. Secondly, analysis of data from the School Health Research Network (SHRN) survey provides quantitative insights into mental hea

Background: The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people is a social care and public health priority. There is evidence of higher rates of mental health disorders, poor subjective wellbeing, and suicide attempts within this group when compared to the general population. Schools and colleges are important sites for supporting mental health and wellbeing, but there are limited services specifically for care-experienced children and young people, and equity of access to support by this population is a key issue. There is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of mental health support for this population and a dearth of understanding as to how schools and colleges might work with health and social care systems to achieve equity, particularly at key educational transition points, such as the transition to post-16 education. Objectives: To understand stakeholder experiences of delivering and receiving mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people in mainstream secondary schools and colleges in Wales, in order to develop recommendations to enhance service quality and ensure equitable access. Methods: The study draws on mixed research methods across three phases of work. Firstly, a series of consultations with care-experienced children and young people, foster carers and adoptive parents, and practitioners from social care, education, and health, identify challenges or perceived gaps in support systems and services from the perspective of different stakeholder groups. Secondly, analysis of data from the 2017/18 School Health Research Network (SHRN) surveys provide quantitative insights into mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people at secondary school. SHRN is a biennial survey of secondary schools in Wales incorporating the Student Health and Wellbeing survey (n=103,971) and the School Environment Questionnaire (completed by senior school staff) (n=161). T

Background: The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people is a social care and public health priority. There is evidence of higher rates of mental health disorders, poor subjective wellbeing, and suicide attempts within this group when compared to the general population. Schools and colleges are important sites for supporting mental health and wellbeing, but there are limited services specifically for care-experienced children and young people, and equity of access to support by this population is a key issue. There is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of mental health support for this population and a dearth of understanding as to how schools and colleges might work with health and social care systems to achieve equity, particularly at key educational transition points, such as the transition to post-16 education. Objectives: To understand stakeholder experiences of delivering and receiving mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people in mainstream secondary schools and colleges in Wales, in order to develop recommendations to enhance service quality and ensure equitable access. Methods: The study draws on mixed research methods across three phases of work. Firstly, a series of consultations with care-experienced children and young people, foster carers and adoptive parents, and practitioners from social care, education, and health, identify challenges or perceived gaps in support systems and services from the perspective of different stakeholder groups. Secondly, analysis of data from the 2017/18 School Health Research Network (SHRN) surveys provide quantitative insights into mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people at secondary school. SHRN is a biennial survey of secondary schools in Wales incorporating the Student Health and Wellbeing survey (n=103,971) and the School Environment Questionnaire (completed by senior school staff) (n=161). T

Background: The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people is a public health and social care priority, and there is evidence of higher rates of mental health disorders, poor subjective wellbeing, and suicide attempts within this group when compared to the general population (1-3). Schools are a key site for supporting mental health and wellbeing, but whilst governments continue to make significant progress in school-based provision (4-6) there are limited services specifically for care-experienced children and young people (7). This is despite policy directives stating that ‘vulnerable’ populations must have equal access to high quality provision (8, 9). Addressing this is challenging, as there is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for this population (7, 10) and a dearth of understanding as to how the educational system might work with health and social care systems to implement evidence-based approaches, particularly at key educational transition points, such as the transition to post-16 education (11). This presentation will introduce initial findings from an empirical research study which aims to understand experiences of delivering and receiving mental health and wellbeing provision for care-experienced children and young people in secondary schools and Further Education (FE) Colleges in Wales, in order to develop recommendations to enhance service quality and ensure equitable access. Methods: The study draws on mixed research methods across three phases of work. Firstly, a series of consultation events with care-experienced children and young people, foster carers and adoptive parents, and practitioners from social care, education, and health, identify particular difficulties or perceived gaps in support systems and services from the perspectives of different stakeholder groups. Secondly, analysis of data from the School Health Research Network (SHRN) survey provides quantitative insights into mental hea

This study aimed to review the fitness for purpose of the statutory school and communitybased counselling service for children and young people (10-18 years) in Wales and to make recommendations for improvement.

The Coronavirus pandemic and its associated lockdowns and restrictions prompted a move from face-to-face interactions to remote forms of engagement that relied on telephone or online contact. This had consequences for the type and frequency of mental health and wellbeing services and interventions that were available to care-experienced children and young people and their foster and kinship carers. This report presents the views and experiences of online mental health and wellbeing provision among young people, carers, and health and social care professionals in Wales during the Coronavirus pandemic. Data were produced in online qualitative interviews with 23 participants, including care-experienced young people (n=3), the biological child of a foster carer (n=1), health and social care professionals (n=9), and foster and kinship carers (n=10). The participants discussed the strengths and challenges of online and in-person services and offered recommendations for future practice and interventions. Once the interview data was generated and analysed the project team met with three advisory groups to discuss the findings of the study and refine the recommendations for policy and practice. These meetings involved foster and kinship carers (n=10) who were members of The Fostering Network’s All Wales Foster Carers’ Advisory Forum, which is facilitated by The Fostering Network in Wales, care-experienced young people (n=4) who were part of CASCADE Voices, and young people (n=4) who were members of The Fostering Network in Wales Young People’s Care Forum. The findings from the study noted some benefits of online mental health and wellbeing services and interventions for care-experienced children and young people, including accessibility, privacy and being able to engage or disengage remotely without the pressures of face-to-face interactions. However, accessibility, a lack of privacy and the format of online interactions were also cited as some of the challenges of remote fo

This report presents the findings of research that explored the educational experiences attainment and aspirations of looked after children and young people (LACYP) in Wales. The findings of the report are drawn from interviews with LACYP and an analysis of available statistics and literature on the looked after children population.

The effectiveness of school-based wellbeing interventions has been limited, primarily due to their lack of contextual fit and omission of stakeholders in intervention development. Mitigating these issues necessitates the coproduction of interventions, with this study aiming to assess the suitability of three participatory methods for involving secondary school students in the coproduction process. The study entailed two research phases. Phase 1 involved conducting guided walks (n=6), photography (n=6) and mapping (n=2) with students. Assessment methods included researcher observations (n=14) and semi-structured participant interviews (n=14). Phase 2 involved member checking wellbeing data from Phase 1 with students in method specific focus groups (n=3) and collecting further participant reflections. An Assessment Framework was applied to assess: method acceptability; feasibility of use in secondary schools; the distribution of power; and the internal validity of data generated. The study found photography and mapping could have a balanced distribution of power, be acceptable, feasible, and internally valid, however, guided walks were problematic in the manner they were enacted. A model was developed to support use of photography and mapping in intervention coproduction.

Narratives of self-harm and suicide continue to receive scant theoretical and empirical attention. Indeed, (dis)continuities both within and across accounts remain largely overlooked. Uncovering meaning and tensions in narratives is imperative to understanding the complexity of causes, but also to comprehending motivations for responses, particularly the reactions of professionals. To date, research on ‘professional narratives’ have privileged the clinician and the clinic, with the repertoires of interpretations held by other professionals being underexamined. This presentation aims to remedy such an oversight through the presentation of interview data from thirty social care professionals, comprising foster carers and residential carers. It will explore the symbolic meaning that these professionals ascribe to self-harm and suicide among the children and young people they care for. Three repertoires of interpretation will be presented: survival, which conceives self-harm as a mechanism for negotiating and navigating the structurally disadvantaged position of “looked-after child”; signalling, which understands self-harm as a communicative tool for expressing emotional distress; and security, which sees self-harming practices as testing the authenticity and safety of the caring relationship. These registers of meaning are squarely located within a socio-cultural framework, with carers centralising the relational aspect of both causes and treatment. The presentation will consider how elicitation of these repertoires provides insight into the oft documented challenges of inter-professionals’ interactions. Carers’ juxtaposition of socio-cultural explanations with the bio-medical discourses they believe to be espoused by clinicians creates distance but also discord, particularly in regard to notion of expert identity and expertise

Research on clinicians’ interpretations of self-harming practices has shown that they can often be negative. To date there has been limited consideration of other professionals’ narratives, notably those working in social care. This presentation presents focus group and interview data generated with foster carers (n= 15) and residential carers (n = 15) to explore the symbolic meanings ascribed to self-harm among the children and young people they care for. Three repertoires of interpretation are presented: survival, which conceives self-harm as a mechanism for redefining the identity of “looked-after”; signaling, which understands self-harm as a communicative tool for the expression of emotion; and security, which sees self-harming practices as testing the authenticity and safety of the caring relationship. Through their focus on sociocultural narratives, carers position themselves as experts on self-harm due to their intimacy with young people’s social worlds. This construction potentially creates distance from health professionals, which is problematic given the current privileging of interprofessional working.

The effectiveness of school-based wellbeing interventions has been limited, primarily due to their lack of contextual fit and omission of stakeholders in intervention development. Mitigating these issues necessitates the coproduction of interventions, with this study aiming to assess the suitability of three participatory methods for involving secondary school students in the coproduction process. The study entailed two research phases. Phase 1 involved conducting guided walks (n=6), photography (n=6) and mapping (n=2) with students. Assessment methods included researcher observations (n=14) and semi-structured participant interviews (n=14). Phase 2 involved member checking wellbeing data from Phase 1 with students in method specific focus groups (n=3) and collecting further participant reflections. An Assessment Framework was applied to assess: method acceptability; feasibility of use in secondary schools; the distribution of power; and the internal validity of data generated. The study found photography and mapping could have a balanced distribution of power, be acceptable, feasible, and internally valid, however, guided walks were problematic in the manner they were enacted. A model was developed to support use of photography and mapping in intervention coproduction.