5 AUGUST 2024
The release of the fourth Annual Data Compilation Report on Closing the Gap shows that more needs to be done to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system in Victoria.
While there has been improvement across several Targets outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the rate of Aboriginal children in out of home care in Victoria is worsening. In 2023, Aboriginal children represented 1.8 per cent of all Victorian children but made up 29.2 per cent of Victorian children in out of home care.
As the state with the highest rate of Aboriginal children in out of home care, the Victorian Government must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our children by taking immediate action to address the rate of overrepresentation.
“The current approach takes a crisis response, and the data keeps telling us something has to change,” said VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett.
Community Protecting Boorais, delivered by VACCA’s groundbreaking Nugel program, provides an Aboriginal-led response to child protection reports and supports Aboriginal families in a way that is grounded in culture, self-determination, and human rights. What’s most telling is in its ability to stem the flow of removal.
Since late 2023, Community Protecting Boorais has demonstrated improved reunification rates, parental involvement in decision making, connection to culture, and health and wellbeing outcomes, however access to this program has been limited by the funding it receives.
“The government is committed to reform, and we are seeing record investment in Aboriginal solutions that we know work, but we need to ensure that the investment into Aboriginal-led early help and family support services is proportionate to the number of Aboriginal children coming into contact with the child protection system,” said Ms Bamblett.
The current lack of available data around housing and homelessness and family violence makes it difficult to track progress towards Targets 9 and 13, and doesn’t allow for accurate reporting on injury and hospitalisation caused by family violence, or the number of Aboriginal people and families experiencing overcrowding or housing insecurity. Stable, safe homes are needed to ensure children and young people are able to grow up at home, surrounded by family, community and culture.
“We tend to forget that it’s not just the children in care now that we need to get home to safe and supported families – we need to prevent this generation and the next from ever having contact with the child protection system,” said Ms Bamblett. “Prevention will save millions now and in the future. If we ignore the drivers of removal – family violence, housing and systemic racism – we will continue to see high rates of Aboriginal children in care,” Ms Bamblett continued.
VACCA has urged the Government to meet its obligations for shared decision-making in genuine partnership with Aboriginal people under the National Agreement to Close the Gap. This first step is valuing the expertise and listening to ACCOs like VACCA who have worked with Aboriginal families and children over 47 years.
“How we as the Aboriginal community decide we would like to take action must include real shared decision making between government and Aboriginal people. We need self-determination in action - Aboriginal decision making, in Aboriginal hands,” said Ms Bamblett.
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FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0439 117 408 E: bethc@vacca.org
Sarah Gafforini – Director, Office of the CEO VACCA
T: 0427 621 421/ E: sarahg@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.