Page 924 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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ACT, like all jurisdictions across Australia, must grapple with over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care. This is a national challenge that requires local solutions.
In the ACT 26 per cent of children in out of home care are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This is despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up only three per cent of the ACT’s entire child population. This is not acceptable. Our Booris, Our Way will help us understand the reasons for children and young people entering care. Importantly, the review will also develop recommendations to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care, improve their experiences and outcomes while in care and find ways for children to return home safely.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are central to this review—their health, education, cultural security, life opportunities and outcomes. I announced this review in June 2017 with a commitment that the governance and methodology were to be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts and key Indigenous organisations.
The first meeting of local and national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives occurred in October 2017. This group included representatives of Winnunga Nimmityjah, Gugan Gulwan, the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Beryl Women’s Refuge, SNAICC and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
As a result of this co-design process, the review is now being overseen by the steering committee I mentioned earlier, a committee with strong cultural intellect and capability. The steering committee includes people with expertise in holistic service delivery and integrated care as well as legal and community experience.
Following the completion of the co-design phase, the first meeting of the entire steering committee was held in February, and a second meeting earlier this month. The steering committee is chaired by Ms Barbara Causon. Ms Causon recently retired from the Australian public service and has a strong track record of achievement in challenging positions. The other members of the steering committee are Natalie Brown, deputy chair; Jo Chivers, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body; Alana Harris, Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services; Caroline Hughes, ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body; Robyn Martin, Beryl Women Inc; Leo Nickels, Aboriginal Legal Service; Peter Williams, Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation; and Sharon Williams, carer.
The steering committee is supported by a project team that will undertake individual case analysis of the approximately 350 individual cases of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the out of home care system. A focus of this analysis will be evaluating whether the Aboriginal child placement principles of prevention, partnership, placement, participation and connection are being upheld.
The team is led by skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with experience in child protection. The review will of course be informed by consultation
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