Tell your leaders to make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children a priority

Family Matters
So, why has the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care increased from one-in-five children to one-in-three children in the last 20 years? It’s wrong. It’s disproportionate. It’s devastating families.

Stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Write to your minister today.

Since the launch of the Family Matters campaign in 2016, the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia’s child protection system has been brought to light – and the push for change is building momentum.

Here are three reasons why we need to take urgent action:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 9.8 times more likely to be removed by child protection authorities
More than 17,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are currently living away from their families in out-of-home care
Only 17% of overall child protection funding was invested in support services for children and their families – meaning the bulk of funds react to the problems rather than solving them.

The situation will get worse if we don’t take action now. Tell your minister that this issue needs to be a priority for both our federal and state governments at the next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

Take action today.

Together, we can make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children live safely in their homes, and grow up healthy and proud of who they are.

Write to your state political leaders:

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Your message
To Premier Jay Weatherall, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in South Australia: • The Family Matters working group has built strong partnerships within the corporate sector that has seen our supporters grow • The Hon. Susan Close, Minister for Child Protection and Education, will host a forum on child protection reform in November this year, to bring together political and sector leaders. This is a chance for the campaign to cement political support • South Australia reviewed the child protection sector and has seen the establishment of Chief Executive’s Group on Aboriginal Affairs, a primary linkage for achieving policy change in the child protection sector I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Chief Minister Andrew Barr, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Premier Gladys Berejiklian, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in New South Wales: AbSec has an established position of leadership in NSW at addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care and celebrates a long tenure of promoting community lead initiatives. Through the Family Matters campaign AbSec is bringing together the community controlled sector and non-Aboriginal allies to uphold the rights of Aboriginal children, families and communities of NSW. • The launch of the Our Families, our way position paper that proposes a new way of working and a framework for addressing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. This new way of working aims to strengthen and empower Aboriginal families and communities to provide safe and nurturing environments for children • The launch of the Caring for Carers, a comprehensive carer support model for carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in NSW. Successful implementation will ensure that carers responsible for growing up our children and young people are provided the necessary training and support to provide culturally embedded therapeutic care • AbSec signed on to support the Home Stretch campaign that calls for all Australian state governments to provide the option for young people to continue receiving out-of-home care support until 21. Supporting Home Stretch ensures that vulnerable young people receive appropriate and effective care plans to become independent and self-sufficient I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Chief Minister Michael Gunner, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in the Northern Territory: • The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory has provided a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to tell their story. This process has been critical to address the abhorrent levels of detention and removal practices in the Northern Territory • Aboriginal and Torres Islander families in the Northern Territory are coming forward to demand more culturally based decision making in placement of their children and young people. The Royal Commission is creating opportunities to make systems accountable for the failings to families. • The Northern Territory government’s launch of their new strategic plan combines child protection, domestic and family violence and youth justice into a single agency for greater responsiveness to families. The specific focus on regional service delivery will ensure that there are locally driven outcomes. I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in Queensland: QATSICPP took the lead in promoting Family Matters and securing QLD Government Support for foundational campaign activities such as publishing the Queensland Family Matters Position Paper, the inaugural Queensland Family Matters Forum hosted in August 2016 and the Post Forum Report. • Launch of an Australian first 20-year strategy to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care: Our Way. This represent a shared commitment between the QLD government and Family Matters Queensland • The development and implementation of the Changing Tracks action plan 2017 to 2019, that will set the foundations for change and realign a new path to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain cared for in family, community and culture • In Far North Queensland the Department of Child Safety have commenced the ‘Reconnection: Relationships with Family, Community & Culture’ project that aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care to develop strong, healthy relationships with family, community and their culture. I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Premier Will Hodgman, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in Tasmania: • There has been a shift to focus on holistic care for children and young people by the Tasmanian government with the continued delivery of the Strong Families – Safe Kids initiative. Recently, the launch and implementation of the Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework ensures that all Tasmanian child and youth services have a common understanding of the needs of children and young people. • Reviews of Tasmania’s child protection system has found under-resourcing and limited capacity being factors for ineffective and unresponsive services. This includes the ability to have culturally effective and culturally appropriate initiatives for Aboriginal families in Tasmania. To address this the child safety redesign will seek to employ Aboriginal cultural liaisons to connect families, ensure appropriate and sensitive programs and services. • The Tasmanian child safety services are implementing processes and measures ensure the commitment to preserving family connectedness and seeks to improve processes towards reunification – particular focus being on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Premier Daniel Andrews, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). I commend your government for taking action on this issue, including the Keeping Connected program that aims to maintain the bond between siblings by ensuring they are kept together when in care. I would like you to continue to take leadership on the issue, including with your counterpart Premiers and Chief Ministers in other states. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. I would like you to commit to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system through a shared target of the Council of Australian Governments. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.
Your message
To Premier Mark McGowan, I am writing to seek your government’s support for Family Matters – Australia’s national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. The campaign seeks to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system within a generation (by 2040). So far, we have seen limited action addressing this over-representation, but we would like you to take leadership on the issue. You will have the support of more than 100 organisations involved in the Family Matters campaign. Here’s some of the progress we’ve already seen in Western Australia: • The Family Matters Coordinating group in Western Australia has built relationships with organisations, government departments and other important stakeholders that have responsibilities in addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. This work has opened dialogue within the child protection sector and given voice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. • The Western Australian government are committed to full implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP). The state government will work with the Family Matters coordinating group and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector in Western Australia to maintain this focus. • The Family Matters coordinating group is advocating for the appointment of an Aboriginal children’s commissioner and the development and investment into a state peak body for Aboriginal children and young people. This would ensure that Aboriginal communities in Western Australia are represented and have an independent voice within the state. I would like you to ensure the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system is on the next Council of Australian Governments’ agenda. With your support, we can ensure the next generation of Australians grow up safe, cared for and with a strong understanding of their own culture.

Tell your leaders to make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children a priority

Take action today.

Together, we can make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children live safely in their homes, and grow up healthy and proud of who they are.

Write to your state political leaders:

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Take action today.

Together, we can make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children live safely in their homes, and grow up healthy and proud of who they are.

Write to your state political leaders:

About Us

Find Out More

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