Page 1802 - Week 06 - Thursday, 30 July 2020
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14. Application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle is reflected in CYPS policy and requires that the first placement priority for all children who enter care is with ‘kin’. In recognition of this priority CYPS has developed a Practice Guide titled: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families: Providing Culturally Responsive Practice.
This is supported by several policies and includes a procedure titled: Placing a child in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle that prioritises the placement of children in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. Further information about embedding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle is identified at item three above.
The Community Services Directorate has also engaged SNAICC to deliver training to CYPS staff on the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, and discussions are taking place for the delivery of this training for a further three years.
Changes already made to policy and practice have been recognised by SNAICC. SNAICC’s latest review of ACT’s compliance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Placement Principle states that the ACT is engaging with all child protection decision making elements of the Principle.
On a national level, the ACT is co-leading (with Queensland) the national Priority One Working Group, focused on improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The Priority One Working Group sits under the Fourth Action Plan for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. The workplan for the group includes actively implementing legislation, policy and/or practice to ensure compliance with the five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle and developing a nationally consistent approach to measuring the application of the five elements. The workplan was agreed by all jurisdictions on 13 August 2019 and jurisdictions are completing project plans to deliver on this work.
In response to COVID-19, Children and Families Secretaries (CAFS) recently agreed to reprioritise national effort and resources to focus on the complex task of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children, families, carers, staff and stakeholders during this time. This includes immediate service delivery challenges and building capability for the recovery phase. This has meant that work on the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children related working groups, including meetings has been paused.
All governments have undertaken to resume national child protection related work at the earliest possible time and continue working together for a coordinated approach to reducing child abuse and neglect in Australia.
15. Work is underway with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community to scope the format, model, and membership of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Practice Forum. This work will ensure that the model reflects the diverse experiences and expertise of members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, so that it enables community-led solutions to human service policy and practice issues.
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