The Council of Australian Governments' 'Protecting children in everyone's business: National framework for protecting Australia's children 2009-2020' (2009) (the Framework) declares a need for a shared agenda for change; suggests a public health model applied to child protection will deliver better outcomes for children; and, sets a target for a substantial reduction in child abuse. The Framework provides interested parties with an opportunity to observe Australian federalism and child welfare administration at a critical juncture. This article identifies three threads to be teased out from the Framework by social work educators and students for critical examination: the Framework itself; a nationally consistent approach to working with children checks; and, the child protection data upon which the Framework relies. Addressing these threads goes some way to meeting the Australian Association of Social Workers' education and accreditation standards while engaging future practitioners with the on-going task of making child protection happen.