Exploring work with Australian Aboriginal families to avoid care placements and to develop culturally safe care services

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are seven times more likely to receive a child protection intervention and nine times more likely to be in out-of-home care (foster, kinship or residential care) than... [ view full abstract ]

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are seven times more likely to receive a child protection intervention and nine times more likely to be in out-of-home care (foster, kinship or residential care) than the general population of Australian children. Australia’s history of past child welfare interventions, particularly the ‘Stolen Generations’ of Aboriginal children forcibly removed from their families under government policy in the 20th century has importantly led to some non-Aboriginal care agencies supporting ‘self-determination’ in Aboriginal child protection in the contemporary Australian setting. In a climate of ongoing crisis where large numbers of Aboriginal children are being reported to statutory child protection, and entering care, Barnardos Australia has examined ways of assisting Aboriginal children, their families and communities in culturally competent ways.
This paper presents an overview of recent approaches to working with Aboriginal families and communities by Barnardos Australia in NSW. It will explore attempts to increase Aboriginal staff numbers and the re-design of programs within a large NSW non-Aboriginal child protection organisation, and includes research which identifies the factors which work in some of the new programs. The paper will describe programs established in rural and city locations. It will also explore two culturally respectful approaches specific to work with children removed from their own families. The first is an emphasis on building kinship programs to support extended family and kinship groups, and secondly the development of partnerships with Aboriginal agencies to assist in development of standards of practice with ultimate movement to full Aboriginal control.
The method used in the study of ‘what works’ has been qualitative, utilising ‘cross cultural collaboration’ and bi cultural practice methods. We will present data on the achievement of improved Aboriginal staffing numbers and retention and the cultural changes required in our agency to achieve goal success. The research shows the slow development in employing Aboriginal workers and trainees and ways of supporting individuals. The paper will describe the formation of an Aboriginal advisory group within Barnardos with associated local regional meetings, and the importance of key Aboriginal workers and leaders. Time lines for establishment of local working parties, consultation and data collection and analysis will be presented.
In Barnardos rural and metropolitan Aboriginal learning centres, the results of a research study into ‘what works’ showed that in the learning centres extra support was needed for individual children with high level one-to-one attention required according to discrete child plans. Intensive work was also needed to develop positive relationships with Aboriginal parents; workers needed to come from the same Aboriginal community and children needed to be strongly connected with that local community. Practical assistance was very important, particularly food and transportation to programs.
Specific programs that have been developed with an Aboriginal focus, including Parents as Teachers and Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters, will be included in the paper presentation.
Barnardos also now operates three specific Aboriginal OOHC programs, with focussed work on search for kin and supporting extended family. The demand for these services is high. Two active Aboriginal agency partnerships with Aboriginal community controlled agencies are currently operating including one of four years duration and a more recent partnership. Establishment of these partnerships has proven to be an area of great complexity and challenge. Success and barrier factors will be examined and described.
Whilst it is too early to draw conclusions about the best ways for non-Aboriginal agencies such as Barnardos to work directly with Aboriginal families, the qualitative research and broad practice approaches undertaken to progress culturally competent service delivery to Aboriginal children and their families in NSW Australia provide critical lessons for the future.