SNAICC in the News – Holding on to Our Future report and the South Australia State Budget
The week of 3 June 2024 media coverage highlights developments in South Australia, with both the tabling of the Holding on to Our Future report by Commissioner April Lawrie and the unveiling of the South Australian State Budget.
Commissioner April Lawrie tabled the Holding on to Our Future report in the South Australian Parliament on 6 June, shedding light on concerning trends in the removal and placement of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. SNAICC extends its congratulations to Commissioner April Lawrie for this vital contribution, emphasising the critical need for increased support for Aboriginal services to prevent our children from entering out-of-home care.
Additionally, the South Australia State Budget 2024-25 allocates $715 million to introduce preschool education for three-year-olds over the next five years. SNAICC welcomes this boost in funding for early years education, notably the $14 million dedicated to Aboriginal communities.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: Holding on to Our Future report
This week, the Holding on to Our Future report was tabled in the South Australian Parliament on Wednesday 5 June by April Lawrie, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.
In June 2022, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People commenced an inquiry into the application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in the removal and placement of Aboriginal children in South Australia.
The final report, Holding on to Our Future, by Commissioner April Lawrie, states that if current trends continue, 140 of every 1000 Aboriginal children in South Australia will be in state care by 2031. The inquiry revealed systemic issues, including over-reporting, over-investigation and over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system and that theses alarming rates may soon resemble those of the Stolen Generations.
Key findings from the inquiry reveal significant issues, including the absence of a defined strategy to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children and a lack of culturally appropriate accountability and oversight mechanisms for monitoring performance in applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. Additionally, the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 prioritises safety as the paramount concern and expands the definition of harm to include welfare and wellbeing matters, leading to unnecessary removals of Aboriginal children and young people.
To address these issues, the key recommendations in the report include amending the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 to incorporate the five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, ensuring they are the paramount consideration for the safety, wellbeing and best interests of Aboriginal children. Furthermore, the Department for Child Protection are to work in partnership with the Aboriginal community through the newly established Aboriginal child and family peak body to develop its own Aboriginal strategy aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people.
SNAICC would like to congratulate Commissioner Lawrie on this significant piece of work which highlights the need to greater support for Aboriginal services to keep our children out of out-of-home care.
Read the Holding on to Our Future report and, for full coverage, view the media stories linked below.
Read the full reportArticle: Report finds Aboriginal children in South Australia are being unnecessarily removed from families and communities – NIT (published 6 June)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“An “institutionally racist” child protection system is trampling on First Nations children, according to a scathing report released by South Australia’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.
In the Holding on to Our Future report tabled in SA Parliament on Wednesday, Commissioner April Lawrie found in a single calendar year, one-in-two Aboriginal children are reported at least once to child protection authorities, whilst one-in-ten are placed in out-of-home care (OOHC).
“The Aboriginal community will no longer tolerate this cost to continue to be at the expense of our children and future generations,” Commissioner Lawrie said.”
Article: South Australian child removals ‘approaching Stolen Generations levels’ – 7NEWS (published 6 June)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Urgent action is needed to address a growing crisis in the removal of Aboriginal children from their families which are “approaching levels akin to the Stolen Generations”, an inquiry has warned.
Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, April Lawrie, has released Holding on to Our Future, the final report of the inquiry into the removal and placement of Aboriginal children in South Australia.
It found Aboriginal children are over-reported, over-investigated and over-represented in removals and long-term Guardianship orders.”
Topic: South Australia Budget
The South Australia State Budget 2024-25 was announced on 6 June 2024, with significant commitments made to early education and care for young South Australians.
The South Australian government has allocated $715 million in the state budget for 2024-25 to implement preschool education for three-year-olds over the next five years. This initiative aims to provide 30 hours of preschool per week for children at the highest risk of developmental vulnerability, as outlined in former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. The plan calls for the establishment of pilot sites and a phased rollout until 2032, with the long-term goal of reducing developmental delays among young South Australians.
The South Australian government stated that it would work with existing long daycare centres and providers, with $14 million of the funding going specifically to Aboriginal communities to prepare for three-year-old preschool. The budget also includes a $56 million workforce fund to address staffing issues and ensure that the required workforce, which exceeds 1,500 employees, is available. This program is expected to significantly improve South Australia’s educational and economic opportunities.
SNAICC welcomes news of the increase in funding for early years education and the commitment to roll out preschool for three-year-olds over the next five years.
For full coverage, read the articles linked below.
South Australian State Budget 2024-25Article: Early learning gets $715 million commitment in SA budget to deliver preschool for three-year-olds – ABC News (published 3 June)
Excerpt
Read More“Almost three quarters of a billion dollars will be spent in the next five years to roll out preschool for three-year-olds in South Australia.
The upcoming SA budget has set aside $715 million to implement the government commitment, with the amount including money to develop the workforce and deliver 30 hours per week of preschool for children “at greatest risk of developmental vulnerability”.”
Article: SA Budget winners and losers – ABC News (published 6 June)
Excerpt
Read More“$715 million over five years will go towards three-year-old preschool and other recommendations from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care… A further $38.1 million will be invested into schools across the state to fund upgrades and expansions.”