ELIMINATING OVER-REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE

Family Matters: Strong Communities. Strong Culture. Stronger Children is Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture.

ISSUE

In what is being termed the new Stolen Generation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are now more than 10 times more likely to be removed from their families than other children. Based on the latest data available (June 2020), 18,862 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were in out-of-home care in Australia, comprising 33% of the total out-of-home care population. The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care has doubled since the 2008 Apology and the rate of over-representation is set to more than triple by 2036 unless there is effective intervention for change.

RESPONSE

The Family Matters campaign has sought to compile, analyse, and disseminate evidence on the operations of child protection systems in every jurisdiction in Australia and their impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Furthermore, the campaign has sought to use documented evidence to monitor the provision of Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations (ACCO) Child and Family Services in each jurisdiction and advocate for the adoption and implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle to ensure adequate safeguards for children and families.