National Commissioner announcement & Closing the Gap Report – SNAICC in the News

Article: Govt announces new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people – SBS News (published: 14 Feb)

Article: National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People welcomed by Indigenous childcare sector – National Indigenous Radio Service (published: 14 Feb)

Excerpt:

“The CEO of SNAICC, Catherine Liddle, says it’s especially fitting that the much-needed mechanism was announced on the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
“This is the day that we are reminded of the horrific impact of government policies, and the horrific impact those policies have had on our children, and our families, and our communities, even today.”“

Article: National Commissioner appointment will be a game changer for First Nations children – The Sector (published: 14 Feb)

Excerpt:

“The appointment, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said, will be “a game changer” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, and will focus on advocating for evidence-based change to policies and systems that will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe, connected to their family and cultural identity.
“Our sector and our communities have been calling for a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children for many years, to tackle the over-representation of young people in out-of-home care and youth detention,” she said.“

TV Interview: Government promising change after damning outcomes in latest Closing the Gap Report – Catherine Liddle on The Project (Channel 10) (broadcast: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“Catherine Liddle is a proud Arrernte and Luritja woman and is the CEO of SNAICC,  the National Voice for Our Children, and she told The Project that closing the gap all starts with children.
“Today’s announcement about standing up a National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander children and families commissioner is a massive step forward,” Catherine said, adding it was “an absolute gamechanger”.
“When you look at those targets that are off track, all of them directly relate to how children are nurtured in their early years,” she said.“

TV News Segment: Closing the Gap report released – ABC News (broadcast: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

CATHERINE LIDDLE:  “When we look at the system failings, we are very, very good at supporting foster carers to wrap around these children. What we haven’t done is give the same level of support to the families that actually look after children.”
“If you’re on a remote community where services aren’t available, your child might be removed from you, not because you’re failing to care for them but because the doctor and specialist services aren’t there.“

Article: Anniversary of stolen generations apology brings mixed feelings – The Age (published: 12 Feb)

Excerpt:

“Last year’s Family Matters report, produced by non-government peak body Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, found while Indigenous children made up for only 6 per cent of all children in Australia, they represented around 43 per cent of the total children in out-of-home care. And the numbers have continued to increase, from 22,243 at June 2021 to 22,328 at June 2022.
Nationwide, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were almost six times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be reported to child protection authorities, with continued high rates of pre-birth notifications for unborn Indigenous babies, and the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under the age of one year from their mothers.“

Media Release: Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs – The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia (published: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“Establishing the National Commissioner is the result of extensive discussions with the peak body, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, which has been calling for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner for many years.“

Article: Price of failure isn’t just money, it’s lives: Albanese – Australian Associated Press (published: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“Ms Liddle, who also heads the national Indigenous children’s body SNAICC, said Mr Dutton had not accepted one of SNAICC’s many invitations to attend an expert briefing on child protection.
“We consult with our communities across the country and time and time and time again they say ‘do we need another inquiry?’” she said.
“We have had inquiry after inquiry … and the fastest mechanism that we can bring into play is the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
“This is a game-changer that we haven’t seen in Australia before.”“

Audio/Radio Report: Closing the Gap report tabled on anniversary of Stolen Generations apology – The World Today (ABC) (broadcast: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“The government has released its first Closing the Gap update since October’s failed Voice to Parliament referendum, after earlier marking the 16th anniversary of the national apology to the Stolen Generations. This audio news report features Michael McCleod, stolen generations survivor, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Catherine Liddle, Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations and SNAICC CEO.“

Article: Closing the Gap: Anthony Albanese condemns ‘inexcusable’ findings on Indigenous disadvantage – The Guardian (published: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“Catherine Liddle, the CEO of SNAICC, the national voice for Indigenous children, called the announcement “groundbreaking” that would “help turn the tide” on out-of-home care.
“The National Commissioner will be the champion, the voice and facilitator for our children, young people and families, and who will hold governments to account,” Liddle said.“

Article: 16 years on from Stolen Generations apology speech, advocates call for more action to close the gap on Indigenous out-of-home care – ABC (published: 13 Feb)

Excerpt:

“The 2023 Family Matters report from the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) shows more than 22,000 First Nations Children are currently in out-of-home care across Australia, and are 10 times more likely to be removed from home than non-Indigenous Children.
It also shows that nationally, 42 per cent of children in out-of-home care are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, despite making up only 5 per cent of the population of Australian children.“

Media Release: Importance of play in closing the gap for First Nations families and children – The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Ministers for the Department of Social Services (published: 14 Feb)

Excerpt:

“The Government is working with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children to develop a playgroups pilot that is culturally-informed and incorporates community views to deliver a number of new playgroups for First Nations families.
An additional $31,660 has been committed to the pilot for investment in First Nations toy libraries, building on the Government’s $1.1 million investment in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver First Nations playgroups.“

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