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(MENAFN- The Conversation) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children are from their families and placed into out-of-home care, raising concerns of another .
One of the main reasons is reporting to child protection services before a child is born, with separation of infants from their parents shortly after birth. This is a national crisis reflecting systemic failures, discrimination, impacts of colonisation and harmful policies, including the .
We must take meaningful steps to enshrine the full intent of the in legislation and implementation in practice.
Another Stolen Generation
In 2018-19, one in five First Nations children removed into out-of-home care was less than one year old. The same year, First Nations infants were removed at a – nine times that of non-Indigenous infants.
This represents failed progress towards the to reduce over-representation of First Nations children in out-of-home care by 45% by 2031. Rather, the gap is widening and urgent reforms are needed.
whether Australia is meeting its obligations as a United Nations member and signatory to the . As she wrote,
The safety, love and nurturing of First Nations children is paramount. Fear of child protection services
Child protection ''risk assessment'' guidelines are from health services. These by parental homelessness, previous involvement with child protection services (as a child or adult), mental ill-health, young parenthood, cognitive impairment, substance use or family violence.
Prenatal child protection notifications are made to ensure families get support. However, fear of child protection services is a . Many ''risk factors'' are to socio-economic deprivation, inadequate access to the social aspects of health, and systemic discrimination.
Child protection responses are often punitive, removing an infant if the mother cannot comply with directives.
For example, identifying family violence is crucial, but notifications can be used as an additional in coercive relationships. Child protection involvement is then experienced as further (systemic) violence, rather than care.
of losing a baby is likely to discourage women from disclosing domestic violence to welfare workers, putting lives at . Responses to threats (for example, fight, flight or freeze) can also negatively affect and behaviour.
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Lack of culturally safe support for families
In a , 98% reported that trauma, stress and grief significantly impacted First Nations parents - yet only 43% were not satisfied their service could address these issues.
include:
- a lack of culturally safe support for mothers before or after they are separated from their child. Some babies are removed shortly after birth without the mother even being told this was being considered
- a lack of transparency, accountability and documentation by child protection services.
These systemic failures lead to immeasurable pain for First Nations families. They can also exacerbate .
in Australia are poor. A of young people leaving this mode of care reported nearly 50% attempted suicide within four years.
Children removed from their parents often also experience:
- lifelong interactions with child protection and
- entrenched disadvantage and institutionalisation
- disconnection from culture, community and family.
The high costs of out-of-home care could be better in preventing family disruption.
Children removed from their parents often experience entrenched disadvantage. A better way forward
Becoming a parent is a time of , offering an opportunity to transform vicious cycles of intergenerational trauma into reinforcing cycles of .
This relates to fostering ''connectedness'', which is central to the of First Nations people.
Health care services specialise in complex physical health issues (for example, caring for pre-term babies). Yet, complex social and emotional health issues are classified as ''risk factors'' and parents are referred to child protection services for 'support'', despite mental health and other expertise being available.
According to the World Health Organisation,
a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Health care services must develop expertise and resource capacity to address social and emotional complexity - including cultural expertise and ways of talking about sensitive issues. This might include , and deep listening, or .
Child protection notifications should only be made when concerns remain about risks to the child after support is provided. Child protection support should then be provided in partnership with health care services. Decisions must be transparent, with professional review, research and evaluation to foster expertise.
Principles to follow
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle provides an organising framework to coordinate efforts, ensuring a comprehensive response with First Nations children and families at the centre.
Examples under the placement principle could include
- prevention: enabling universal access to care
- partnership: a community-driven of an appropriate model
- placement: ensuring all families requiring support can access alternative options to removal (such as and )
- participation: honest, transparent interactions with parents — no baby should be removed without prior authentic discussions
- connection: if child safety concerns still remain, efforts must be made to preserve connections to family, community, culture and Country.
These connections are essential elements for First Nations people's cultural, social and emotional wellbeing. The welfare of parents must also be considered. Too often parents are left alone, without support, following the removal of their baby.
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Child protection services must be culturally safe and responsive to the First Nations children and families they serve. Grounded on these foundations, the provide an evidence-informed framework, emphasising all families enjoy access to high quality, culturally safe universal and targeted family supports.
This is aimed at ensuring children can thrive, and are best developed and delivered by First Nations communities themselves.
In this , we argue over-representation of First Nations children in out-of-home care is not accidental, and we are calling for change to support families to stay together from the start.
We can do this better – and we must.
Those interested in joining the Family Matters campaign can find more information .
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