Extract from ABC News
The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being removed from homes and placed into Australia’s child protection system — and staying there permanently — is increasing at a "staggering" rate, according to a new report.
Key points:
- The report found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children represent 39 per cent of all kids in out-of-home care
- Family Matters co-chair Paul Gray says the figures are "getting worse for our kids"
- NSW applied permanent care orders at the highest rate of all states and territories in 2019-2020
The Family Matters report, released by Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), found 21,523 Indigenous children were in out-of-home care as of June 30, 2020, which represents one in every 15.6 First Nations children living in Australia.
It also found 79 per cent, about 17,000 children, lived permanently away from their birth parents, with less than 15 per cent being reunified with their families.
SNAICC is the national peak body for First Nations children.
Wiradjuri man and Family Matters co-chair Paul Gray said the figures were "getting worse for our kids".
“They are sadly almost becoming the majority of children in out-of-home care and I think that should give us significant pause,” he said.
“It should be of deep concern to everyone the experiences and these statistics that we're seeing nationally but also the sorts of response that we’re seeing from government.”
Despite last year's historic National Agreement on Closing the Gap to reduce the rate of over-representation of children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031, the report said future projections of Indigenous kids in care "remains deeply concerning" and could increase by more than 50 per cent over the next decade without major reform.
“The number of our children living in out-of-home care is projected to increase by 54 per cent over the next decade if the current trajectory is not interrupted by profound and wholesale change to legislation, policy and practice,” the report said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up about 6 per cent of all children in Australia but represent 39 per cent of all kids in out-of-home care.
“Our kids are over-represented in every step of that system but also that over-representation grows as we move through the system,” Mr Gray said.
“These systems are fundamentally failing our kids and they need to be transformed if they are going to do better.”
The report calls for greater investment in Indigenous-led solutions that supports early intervention and prevention, and for a national commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
About 84 per cent of child protection funding is spent on intervention and out-of-home care.
Just 16 per cent is invested in families and supporting families.
“All children deserve to know who they are, grow up connected to their Mob, family and kin – learn their stories and pass them on to future generations. Yet sadly, for many of our children, this is taken away from them” Family Matters co-chair and SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle said.
Ms Liddle said the report highlighted efforts of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations “who are working closely with our children and families in a culturally safe environment, providing wraparound support and giving families a voice in decision-making about their children".
“Through the National Framework and the National Agreement, we can set a clear and resourced pathway to transform Australia’s child and family service systems and uphold genuine self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Together we can make a difference."
NSW has 'performed poorly'
In NSW, the number of children on guardianship and adoption orders are some of the highest of any state or territory.
It also applied permanent care orders at the highest rate in 2019-2020.
John Leha, chief executive of the NSW Aboriginal child and family peak organisation, AbSec, said the report emphasised the need for urgent government action.
“Permanent orders like these can’t be used by governments to take Aboriginal children out of out-of-home care statistics and find a shortcut to meeting their targets without reducing removals,” he said.
“The release of the report is a timely reminder that more must be done to ensure we avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure Aboriginal children grow up with every opportunity to thrive connected to culture and community.”
The report comes two years after a damning review into Aboriginal children in the NSW protection system, which found significant non-compliance with policies and procedures.
The 2019 Family is Culture review called for structural reform and the establishment of a new, independent statutory body to conduct care.
The state government has responded to some of the recommendations and has since appointed a deputy children’s guardian for Aboriginal children and young people.
But AbSec said the report’s calls for reform, guided by self-determination and accountability had been "sidelined, overlooked or watered down".
“NSW has performed poorly or very poorly, emphasising the need for more action from the government, especially when it comes to creating a culturally responsible child protection system accountable to communities,” Mr Leha said.
“More must be done to ensure we avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure Aboriginal children grow up with every opportunity to thrive connected to culture and community.”
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