NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION CRISIS... The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on child protection in Australia reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accounted for 70 % of the increase in the overall number of children in out-of-home care in the 12 months to June 2013. Figures in Child protection Australia 2012–13 show that from June 2012 to June 2013, the number of all children in out-of-home care in Australia increased by 928 — of whom 653 were Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander children. A total of 13,952 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were in out-of-home care in Australia in June 2013 — or 34 % of all children in care. This is despite the fact that our children comprise only 4.5 % of the national child population. During 2012–13, 36,656 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children received child protection services, a rate of 150.9 per 1,000 children. However, there was substantial variation across the jurisdictions in the rate ratio — from three times as likely in Tasmania to nearly 14 times as likely in Western Australia. In 2012–13, 10,991 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were the subject of a child protection substantiation. Overall, the most common type of substantiated abuse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children was neglect, followed by emotional abuse. The report reveals that across Australia, 68% of Indigenous children were placed with relatives/kin, other Indigenous caregivers or in Indigenous residential care under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. SNAICC Chairperson, Sharron Williams has described the disproportionate and increasing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care as “a national disgrace”. Ms Williams has previously said that addressing the underlying causes that lead to child abuse and neglect was at the core of improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. “Our children and families continue to experience systemic discrimination and disadvantage in health, education and housing,” Ms Williams said. “Any long-term and sustainable solutions to our children’s welfare must be based on ensuring the basic needs of our children and families are met.” She said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities must be empowered to participate in a meaningful way in the design and delivery of programs that affect their lives. “A greater focus must be placed on early intervention and prevention measures — improving access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based early childhood, child care, family support and child welfare programs to keep families together,” Ms Williams said. “We need to recognise and build on the strengths of Indigenous families and communities to support and nurture their children.” Increase since National Apology in 2008. Since then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s historic apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children placed in out-of-home care in Australia has increased by 53.8 %. In comparison, since 2008 the number of non-Indigenous children in out-of-home care has increased by 22.6 %. *From SNAICC (Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Body). snaicc.org.au/policy/dsp-landing-policyarea.cfm?loadref=172
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:00:54 +0000
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