SNAICC in the News for the week of 4 March 2024
The week of 4 March 2024 media coverage highlights the latest Closing the Gap data update, which reveals concerning new data indicating that only five out of 19 are currently being met.
Catherine Liddle, Acting Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks and CEO of SNAICC, addressed the media regarding the data findings, calling them ‘monstrous’. Of particular note is the increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention and no improvement in child removal rates, which was revealed in the data update. Highlighting the need for urgent and sustained action from government, Catherine Liddle stressed the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and emphasised that these organisations are better placed to deliver culturally appropriate and more effective services to our children.
Catherine Liddle also reiterated SNAICC’s support for the recommendations outlined in the Productivity Commission’s draft report on early childhood education and care. Advocating for sustainable funding for these organisations’ services and the removal of barriers such as the Childcare Activity Test, SNAICC has emphasised the importance of a new early learning and care services model that prioritises cultural relevance and quality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Additionally, SNAICC has been appointed as the Secretariat for the First Nations National Plan Steering Committee, highlighting our ongoing commitment to addressing critical issues facing our communities.
For a comprehensive look, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: Majority of Closing the Gap targets not on track
The latest data update for the Closing the Gap Dashboard, released on 8 March 2024, reveals concerning new data, including an increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children held in detention and no reduction in rates of child removal.
The Closing the Gap data update reveals only five out of 19 targets are currently on track, emphasising the need for governments to make urgent and sustained changes in their approach to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Catherine Liddle, Acting Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks and CEO of SNAICC, spoke to the media on the report’s overall distressing and ‘monstrous’ findings. Targets for criminal justice, youth justice, child protection and suicide prevention have either remained unchanged or worsened, all highlighting a critical need for change.
Liddle also emphasised the importance of recognising the knowledge, expertise and community connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations in designing and delivering culturally appropriate services. She expressed support for the full implementation of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations and encouraged governments to embrace the challenges outlined in the Commission’s review to unlock the full potential of the National Agreement and drive meaningful change.
See the response to the Coalition of Peaks’ Media Release and media engagements below.
Read full the Media ReleaseRadio News Story: Majority of closing the gap targets ‘not on track’, latest commission finds – SBS News (broadcast 7 Mar)
Excerpt:
Listen to the full report“When you drill the data sets, they’re horrific. The vast majority of children removed from their families in Australia are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. That’s why it’s referred to as gross. More than 40 per cent say in some jurisdictions, it’s more than 50 per cent of all children removed from their families are ours. Now, that’s despite the fact that our children only represent about 9 per cent of the population. So when we’re talking about concepts like gross, I think we also have to call them monstrous.” – Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO.
Radio News Story: Only five Closing the Gap targets are on track – ABC News (RN Breakfast) (broadcast 7 Mar)
Excerpt:
Listen to the full report“…todays report shows the stark reality of decades of government failure… it also reinforces what was shown by the Productivity Commission [that] there’s this incredible pathway there [to] work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but, fundamentally, governments have failed in their commitment to change the way they work and to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to get the outcomes that we know we so desperately need.”
Topic: Call for a new early learning and care services model
This week, SNAICC has called for the creation of a new early learning and care services model to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families’ engagement in culturally-centred and high-quality education and care and integrated early years services.
SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle spoke to the Productivity Commission at its latest inquiry meeting, held on 5 March, outlining core aspects of the peak body’s submission, advocating for a universal early childhood education and care system that prioritises culturally-centered, high-quality services. Catherine Liddle highlighted the need for sustainable funding for Aboriginal community-controlled organisation early learning and care services, supporting the removal of the Childcare Activity Test and endorsing the Productivity Commission recommendation for universal access to at least 30 hours of weekly early childhood education and care.
SNAICC is calling for:
- a new, dedicated funding model incorporating block and needs-based funding for ACCO ECEC services, that matches resources to wrap around support needs in each community
- the building and sustaining of a decided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years workforce
- ongoing funding for ACCO early years services backbone support.
SNAICC also supports the Productivity Commission’s recommendation of establishing an ECEC Commission to oversight better coordination and delivery of ECEC policies and provide accountability.
See the response to our Media Release and media engagements in the full articles below.
Read our Media ReleaseArticle: SNAICC calls for a new early years service model to help Close the Gap – National Indigenous Times (published 5 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“We reiterate our call for the scrapping of the Childcare Activity Test,” Ms Liddle said. “As [a] step towards this, we are pleased to see the Productivity Commission’s draft recommendation for universal access to at least 30 hours of ECEC per week for our children.”
The peak body made the submission to the ECEC, supporting the vision of a “universal ECEC system” that would strengthen Indigenous children and families’ involvement and engagement with “culturally centred and high-quality education and care and integrated early years services.“
Article: SNAICC has called for a new early learning and care services model – The Sector (published 6 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Australia’s current market-based funding model, Ms Liddle said, “is failing our most vulnerable children. It also perpetuates childcare deserts in many areas where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children live.
Closing the gap starts with improving outcomes for our children, and that means changing systems to what we know works so our children are developmentally ready for school.”
Topic: Safe and Supported Agreement Launch
This week, on Friday 8 March 2024, also marked a significant milestone as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders joined Community Services Ministers from across Australia to launch the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement.
The Partnership Agreement will oversee the implementation of Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 and its two Action Plans. Hosted on Kaurna country in Adelaide, the Agreement represents a significant, concrete demonstration of a commitment to shared decision-making and a different way of working between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and every government. The historic initiative places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices at the forefront and underscores a commitment to shared decision-making and a transformative approach to child protection.
Media coverage is to come and will be covered in next week’s SNAICC in the News.
Read our Media Release below.
View Media ReleaseTopic: First Nations’ National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
The Women and Women’s Safety Ministerial Council met virtually last week, on Friday 1 March, to assess the Performance Measurement Plan for the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Minister Rishworth announced the formation of a 24-member First Nations National Plan Steering Committee on January 15, 2024, and informed last Friday that SNAICC had been contracted to serve as the Steering Committee’s Secretariat. The Ministers acknowledged the importance of broad consultations led by First Nations peoples, which are set to begin in April 2024 and emphasised the First Nations National Plan’s alignment with other government priorities addressing family, domestic, and sexual violence in First Nations communities.