State of Denial

The Neglect and Abuse of Indigenous Children in the Northern Territory

OVERVIEW

The over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child welfare system across Australia has been widely noted and commented upon (Johnstone 2000, Dodson 1999, SNAICC 1996). However little research has been carried out which compares the rate of Indigenous child removal across States and Territories. In the Northern Territory the rate of Indigenous child removal is very low when compared to the rates for Indigenous children in other States and Territories and only marginally higher than the rate of child removal for all children across Australia (AIHW 2000).

This research explored reasons for the lower recorded rates of child abuse and neglect and child removal for Indigenous in the Northern Territory taking account of:

• historical practices of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families,
• recognised risk factors for child abuse and neglect,
• the socio-economic position of Indigenous families, and
• the views of a number of community based agencies.

Regrettably the research found no cause for celebration in the lower recorded rates of child abuse and neglect and child removal. Rather it found that the child protection system in the Northern Territory is seriously failing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

In examining the prevalence of known factors which give rise to child abuse and neglect the research establishes that these factors are as prevalent and in most instances more prevalent within the Northern Territory than in other states and territories. This would suggest that the Northern Territory has the highest levels of hidden or ignored child abuse and neglect in Australia.

Key Aboriginal agencies expressed a lack of confidence in the child protection system and described a system which is fragmented, poorly resourced, unpredictable and unresponsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at risk of child abuse and neglect and the needs of their families. Of grave concern is the fact that all agencies interviewed were able to cite examples of where they had reported serious cases of child abuse or neglect only to witness little or no response from child protection authorities. Agencies indicated that this, (not responding to notifications of abuse), was typical of the child protection system in the Northern Territory.

There is evidence that at the local community level fear of reprisals, poverty and a lack of confidence in the child protection system result in abuse and neglect not being reported.

The research highlights that high levels of child neglect brought about by endemic inter-generational poverty, unemployment, homelessness and dispossession are being largely ignored by child protection authorities with this form of neglect seen as ‘the norm’ by communities, police and people with a direct role in child protection. Thus Indigenous children who are not having their most basic needs of food and shelter met are ignored by child welfare authorities who seemingly view their situation as ‘normal’ for Aboriginal communities and therefore ‘acceptable’.

The research found that the child protection system in the Northern Territory is not a system at all and that it is failing to meet its statutory obligations to Indigenous children under the Northern Territory Community Welfare act of 1983. It found little evidence of any serious or sustained attempt from the Northern Territory or Commonwealth Governments to address the underlying causes of child abuse or neglect in partnership with Indigenous communities.

The following report includes a series of reform proposals focused on ensuring Indigenous children are protected from harm, by recasting the child protection system to work holistically with Indigenous families and by addressing the underlying causes of abuse and neglect through building negotiated partnerships with Indigenous communities to replace the imposed, ineffective and residual child welfare system currently in place.