Built in 1821 to house and provide productive employment for the New South Wales colony’s growing population of female convicts, the Parramatta Female Factory was also the site of countless horrors.
New research shows keeping First Nations families together is better for the children’s wellbeing. How can First Nations families be better supported to achieve this?
Rather than policing or separating families, a new collaborative movement born in the US seeks to find better ways to support children, families and communities.
The new report calls for funding and support for Aboriginal community controlled organisations. They are best placed to lead reform and to make decisions about the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
We surveyed 232 foster and kinship carers who had provided care to a baby in out-of-home care sometime in the last five years. Many were not well supported to care for babies.
First Nations women and their newborns are considered high risk due to fatality rates and access to care. Research shows First Nations-led culturally safe healthcare could prevent further deaths.
Attendance at school is crucial to improving educational outcomes for students. Unfortunately, children in out-of-home care face myriad challenges when it comes to attending school every day.
As we edge closer to another anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s National Apology to the Stolen Generations, the number of First Nations children in out-of-home has increased.
Recently, the Commonwealth government created a redress scheme to compensate Stolen Generations survivors. But more needs to be done to address the trauma.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt arrive ahead of delivering the statement on the Closing the Gap Implementation Report.
Lukas Koch/AAP
The government recently announced a new reparations scheme for Stolen Generations survivors. However, these survivors are only a fraction of the Indigenous children separated from their families.
Three Rivers by Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas, from the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation. This artwork was commissioned by the Research Centre for Children and Families and the image represents the importance of keeping children in out-of-home care connected to Kinship and culture.
Provided by author
Pandemic-induced lockdowns have brought up challenges for children in out-of-home care and their carers. However, Kinship care provided unexpected positives for Aboriginal elders and their families.
Big Elders meetings are conducted annually in Perth as part of community consultation and governance for the Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort (Our Children Our Heart) project.
Provided by author
New research suggests that 20% of existing foster carer households may be affected in some way by the virus, and that we have a unique opportunity to support vulnerable children in the months ahead.
Family violence issues are likely to be exacerbated by the COVID-10 pandemic. Lockdown can especially affect women and children who may wish to escape an abusive relationship or receive support.
If a child commits an offence while in the care of the state, questions should be asked about the quality of care and supervision being provided.
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What’s most concerning is children are being charged in out of home care for unnecessary and avoidable offences. We need to do a better job of placing children safe environments.