The national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is demanding urgent action to transfer child protection responsibilities to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), as new data shows no improvement in outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, said the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals another year of failure to protect the most vulnerable.
“These statistics represent real children who have been let down for another 12 months by the very systems meant to keep them safe,” Ms Liddle said.
“The AIHW’s Child Protection Australia 2023/24 report shows continued over-representation of our children in out-of-home care, and yet again, governments have failed to act on what works – transitioning delegated authority to the ACCO sector.
“It is a festering national sore.
“This lack of progress also reflects a broader failure to meet the Closing the Gap which has devastating consequences for our children.
According to the AIHW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain disproportionately represented in child protection investigations and substantiation orders, and continue to experience higher rates of removal from their families.
“ACCOs provide culturally strong, community-led support and are more successful at reuniting children with family and kin,” Ms Liddle said.
“They are key to turning these statistics around.
“We’re calling for the urgent transition of delegated authority to ACCOs and real investment in self-determination to support real change for our children.”
Background
The AIHW Child Protection Australia 2023/24 report provides national insights into the child protection system, including data on notifications, investigations, substantiations of maltreatment, and service responses across the country.
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