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A pilot child protection program in Bendigo is giving the Aboriginal community a greater say in the welfare of its children at risk.
Under the pilot, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative can take on case management for consenting Aboriginal families subject to certain court child protection orders.
This has been made possible by section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, which allows the Department of Health and Human Services secretary to delegate specific child protection responsibilities to the Aboriginal head of an Aboriginal-controlled agency.
The legislation was introduced to better facilitate self-determination for the Aboriginal community.
BDAC family and community services general manager Rachel O’Dowd said the pilot meant the organisation took on the role of the department when working with families, but case management was conducted by Aboriginal staff, was culturally safe and incorporated cultural needs.
Ms O’Dowd said the program also took a strength-based approach, meaning case managers discussed what was going well with families and worked with them to find solutions to problems.
“It’s relational, rather than a ‘case file’ approach,” Ms O’Dowd said.
There was a lack of cultural competency within the child protection system when it came to the Aboriginal community, she said, and while that was improving, it was “not where it should be”.
She said there was also a gap in the understanding of why Aboriginal people would not go to mainstream agencies or comply with orders.
The legacy of the Stolen Generations and a history of ill-treatment by government agencies means many Aboriginal people are reluctant or fearful of working with them.
Ms O’Dowd said BDAC had worked with 11 families since October, four of whom had had their cases closed, with four children reunited with their families, which represented “fairly good results”.
Feedback from families indicated they appreciated the cultural considerations and understanding of their stories, she said.
The pilot began in July last year and will run until at least September; the state government also committed to extending the program in this year’s budget.
BDAC has worked with other agencies, including Anglicare, during the pilot.
Aboriginal children are over-represented in the child protection system.
A Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People report released last year revealed the vast majority of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care were case-managed by a non-Aboriginal agency.