The 2024 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day theme 'Strong in Culture, Stronger Together' celebrates the connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people have with their families and cultures.
Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services Rachel Stephen-Smith and Chair of the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee Natalie Brown have come together to recognise the importance of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to be proud of their culture, stories, kin and community.
"We are working together so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families can stay safe and connected. We are supporting their strengths and reforming our systems to provide earlier and more culturally appropriate help for families who need it," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"The ACT Government recognises that the unacceptable over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system reflects and exacerbates the ongoing impact of colonisation and the transgenerational trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
"Our work to address the recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way review and to implement the Next Steps for Our Kids 2022-2030 strategy supports a broader commitment to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community towards better outcomes for children, young people and families.
"It is incumbent on us to foster the strengths within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, reduce the number of children entering care, improve the experiences for those in care, and work towards safe restoration wherever we can."
Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee Natalie Brown said: "I want to acknowledge our dedicated Aboriginal and Community Controlled Organisations who care for our community. Who provide this care based on what is needed not on how they are funded. They work long and hard for our community. I also want to recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander frontline staff, particularly the First Nations Team, whose positive community feedback demonstrates they are helping families access supports that keep families together. We need more staff in this team to work with our families."
The 2019 Our Booris, Our Way report, a wholly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and driven review, made 28 recommendations to the ACT Government to help reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.
"I thank the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee for its dedication, guidance and willingness to share knowledge and experience as we continue to implement the review recommendations and improve the child protection system," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"It takes time, commitment and effort to reform the system and make lasting improvements, but I'm encouraged by our continued progress and our commitment to a stronger, connected future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the ACT."
Ms Brown said: "The Our Booris, Our Way committee acknowledge our strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
"We hold you at the heart of our work. We know you, we see you, we hear you, we are you. Your experiences drive our determination to make changes and to keep making changes, so our families remain together, stronger. We still have more work to do, and we will keep striving for real, meaningful and enduring reform so our families remain strong in culture and stronger together."
Recent progress includes:
- Commencement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Commissioner, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the ACT, both individually and at a systemic level, to promote their rights and wellbeing.
- Modernising the Children and Young People Act 2008 to establish a culturally responsive, high-functioning legislative framework for the ACT's child protection and family support system. Amendments have been made to commence embedding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, which helps children keep connected to their families, communities and cultures and place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the centre of any decisions about children in the child protection system.
- The First Nations Family Support Team has been established to provide culturally safe and informed support to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
- Appointment of a First Nations Kinship Liaison Officer to strengthen support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers.
- Ongoing investment with the Aboriginal Legal Service for the Care and Protection Legal Advocacy Service with more than $900,000 invested over 2 years.
- Active efforts are being made to support a sustainable Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) sector and enable the transition of case management responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children to one or more registered ACCOs.
