The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP) was designed to recognise the importance of safe care within family and culture to the best interests of children and to ensure that actions that caused the Stolen Generations are not repeated.
Its elements span both prevention of entry to out-of-home care and reunification to ensure culturally connected placements and enable the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities in child protection decision making.
UNDERSTANDING THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILD PLACEMENT PRINCIPLE
SNAICC has completed its annual comprehensive review of the progress of all states and territories in implementing the full intent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP).
The compliance reviews highlight that there has been significant work undertaken in states and territories to strengthen adherence with the five elements of the Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP), but that overall implementation remains poor and limited. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be separated from family and culture at alarming rates, and there are a lack of comprehensive approaches to involving children, families and communities in decisions and services related to the care and protection of children. There are many areas identified in the review where reform and action are urgently needed to ensure full and holistic implementation.