Inter-Agency Collaboration: Why is it so difficult? Can we do it better?

This paper is based on a presentation at the Mission of St James and St John Forum ‘Protecting Our Children: Where Do We Draw the Line?’ in Melbourne on June 18, 1993. It provides an analysis of why inter-agency collaboration has often remained an elusive goal and identifies some of the structural obstacles to collaboration which are particularly relevant to the current context of child welfare in Victoria. While many of the obstacles to inter-agency collaboration are beyond the domain of the individual practitioner and agency, some suggestions are offered for strategies which can be pursued by practitioners and agencies.