Page 487 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Immediate initiatives include the development of a designated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practice leader position within child and youth protection services, which will have a key role in supporting embedding the SNAICC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protection principles; continued support for staff to undertake the child and youth protection services cultural development program which is designed to provide staff with a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and have a strong focus on collaboration and establishment of positive working relationships both with families and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations; engagement of SNAICC to undertake training for staff on the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principles and the development of a practice guide for staff on the implementation of the practice principles.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why are the outcomes for Indigenous children and families getting worse under your government here in the ACT?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Again, I am not sure I would accept the premise of Mr Milligan’s question. We are the only jurisdiction in the closing the gap report that is on track to deliver three of the targets—still not good enough but the only one that is on track to deliver three targets. They relate to children and young people. We are working very hard with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to trial and to implement new measures.
While I am on my feet and have the opportunity, I would also note that cultural change is really important in this space. We are not going to deliver the changes we need to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait and Islander people and communities without better understanding their experiences. So last year the Community Services Directorate held three showings of the After the apology film, a film that features four Aboriginal grandmothers and their experiences with the child protection system.
Five hundred CSD staff, if I remember correctly, attended the film and held conversations among themselves—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Yes, that is very funny—about the impact of the film on them, reflecting on their practice, reflecting on how the decisions they make affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and grandmothers. It was a really powerful experience.
It is only through this kind of engagement in cultural reform across the workforce that we will deliver real change in the way that we work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families rather than doing to or for them. Enabling us to work in a restorative way with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families will make a significant difference in this space, but it will not happen overnight.
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—out of home care
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Minister for Children, Youth and Families. Minister, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in our community are
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