Today, 4 August, is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. This year’s theme, ‘Little Voices, Loud Futures’, raises awareness for the bright futures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and the potential for their voices to pave a new path for the nation, should the First Nations Voice be enshrined in the Constitution.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people deserve to have a voice on the things that affect them,” Rachel Stephen-Smith, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, said. “It is up to us to listen.
“This is just one of the many things the Our Booris, Our Way Review has reinforced for us.”
The Our Booris, Our Way review (2017) was a systemic review into the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system. It aimed to better understand how the ACT Government and the community can reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care.
“The voices of children and families were crucial to the Our Booris, Our Way Review,” said Natalie Brown, Chair of the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee.
“It is these voices, along with the many who have joined them since the review was released, that drive us forward as we ask for urgent, immediate and long-lasting change.”
The ACT Government is committed to delivering on the recommendations from the Our Booris, Our Way Review and working in partnership with the Implementation Oversight Committee to achieve change, Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“While we acknowledge there is still a great deal of work to be done to reduce over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care, to improve the experiences of those in care and to increase the opportunities for safe return to family, we also want to acknowledge the achievements made since the last National Day.”
In the last year:
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner position has been established. An interim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Advocate was appointed while recruitment takes place.
A First Nations family support team has been established, working with families to keep children safe and connected to culture and community. They are developing a new Child and Youth Protection Services practice framework led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles.
The newly established Community Services Directorate Aboriginal Service Development Branch is helping Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) to develop, including out-of-home care services as outlined in Next Steps for Our Kids 2022-2030.
A First Nations kinship liaison officer has been recruited to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers. This officer is providing targeted and culturally informed support for any kinship carers, regardless of where they are in their caring journey.
A Care and Protection Legal Advocacy Service has also commenced. Provided by the Aboriginal Legal Service, it provides culturally appropriate legal and advocacy services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families encountering the ACT’s child protection system.
Critical changes are being made to the Children and Young People Act 2008. Consultation on the first of two stages for legislative change concluded on 27 July. The legal, policy, and practice changes will positively shape our care and protection system and how it works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, the government says.
“The progress this year is promising,” Ms Brown said. “Our voices are starting to be heard.
“But it is critical that we maintain momentum and make real progress on key recommendations around supports and services that are accessible, Aboriginal-led, and address key social determinants including housing, health, education, and justice.”
In the spirit of this National Day, the Gulunga Program (ACTCOSS) and Our Booris, Our Way Committee will host a Symposium on 31 August, Working Together for Our Booris. This event, to be held at the QT Hotel, will bring community together to discuss these little voices and how to make their futures loud and strong.
