Penny Haskins
After receiving a Bachelor of Social Studies degree from the University of Sydney (1975), I practised as a Social Worker in country New South Wales before joining the Drugs in Pregnancy program at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a part-time role.
In this program, I worked very closely with child protection services as well as with mental health, domestic violence and homelessness services and I began my long interest in working with children who have been impacted by the child protection system and who are not able to live in their families of origin.
I have worked since 1988 as a private practitioner throughout NSW, in the field of Adoption, Permanent Care and Foster Care, initially specialising in the area of assessment of prospective adoptive parents and in identifying the additional responsibilities, sensitivities, awareness and skill required in parenting a child born to someone else.
My work with children in the out of home care system, with those who have exited this system through open adoption and with adoptees has given me a particular interest in how these children come to know and understand their experiences, and, more importantly, how they are provided with the tools, and the emotional support, to integrate their experiences in as functional a manner as possible. I have extensive experience working with birth families, many of whom themselves have been impacted by the child protection system, and with carers, to build the whole-of-family relationships that I believe offer the most sustainable model for continuing connection with birth family as the young person matures.
Since 1997, in addition to my casework, I have co-developed and co-presented all Departmental Intercountry and Local Preparation for Adoption seminars, as well as the Out Of Home Care Preparation for Adoption seminars, for prospective adoptive applicants.
Over the last decade I have worked with colleagues and the Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ) to develop and deliver training for independent assessors as part of their DCJ accreditation. In 2016 I chaired an Information Roadshow for DCJ exploring Open Adoption Legislation & Best Practice for practitioners that travelled from Sydney to the Central Coast, Tamworth, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Bathurst, Wollongong and Albury.
I have developed and delivered training and seminars for other adoption stakeholders including accredited agencies, Association of Child Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and Legal Aid NSW.
I have attended complex case consultations and have mentored caseworkers and casework managers in DCJ and accredited agencies.
Over the last three years I have also been called on as expert consultant to the Supreme Court of NSW in contested adoption matters.