Reviewing Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle ACT 2020

Introduction

This report reviews the progress of the ACT Government, through the Directorate and its Child and Youth Protection Services, in implementing the full intent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

This implementation review is conducted on the basis of the best practice approach set out in SNAICC, 2017, Understanding and Applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle – A Resource for Legislation, Policy and Program Development and SNAICC, 2018, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle: A Guide to Support Implementation.

It considers changes in the implementation of the five elements of the Child Placement Principle – prevention, partnership, placement, participation and connection – described in diagram across five interrelated system elements, since the comprehensive baseline analysis SNAICC released in April 2018. These system elements are legislation, policy, programs, processes and practice.

This review considers implementation efforts from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020.

Key findings of the Implementation Review for ACT 2020

Australian Capital Territory still has a long way to go to fully implement the intent of the Child Placement Principle.

Although there have been some efforts made to embed the Child Placement Principle across policy, programs, processes and practice, there remain gaps in implementation that must be urgently addressed to improve outcomes.

Action has been taken to improve ways kin carers are found, assessed and supported. However, the placement of children with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers is below the national average, revealing that more must be done to find and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kin carers, especially when children first enter out-of-home care.

The government has made promising efforts to support Family Group Conferencing, which has led to the increased participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families in decision-making. More efforts must be taken to ensure this process is available to all families at key decision-making points across the child protection continuum. Community leaders have also expressed that this process should be fully independent.