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

Introduction

This report reviews the progress of the Northern Territory Government 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 (2018 Baseline Analysis).

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

Key findings of the Implementation Review for Northern Territory 2020

The Northern Territory Government has continued to progress promising legislative and policy changes to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system.

These include important overarching policy directives supporting different elements of the Child Placement Principle, including local decision-making and partnerships with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. The commencing legislative reforms include an increased emphasis on early intervention and prevention services, increased child and family participation in decision-making, and a higher threshold requirement for permanency orders.

While Territory Families highlighted high recruitment rates of kinship carers, it is unclear whether this has translated into increased placements of Aboriginal children with kin or Aboriginal carers. Further, the Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction which does not report placements of Aboriginal children with non-indigenous relative/kin. Consequently, non-indigenous family are included in the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relative/kin’ category. This is highly problematic, inaccurate, and impedes the ability to measure the implementation of the Placement element of the principle, which specifies that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kin should be prioritised.

Partnership activities are ongoing and have significant potential to meet the aims of this element. However, critical representation of Aboriginal children, families, and organisations would be improved with a dedicated commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people with the requisite powers to conduct investigations into systemic issues impacting Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory. There remains no dedicated Aboriginal peak body that could be involved in the design of policies and services impacting on Aboriginal children and families.

While strategic frameworks, policies, and procedures demonstrate a commitment to the goals and intentions of the Child Placement Principle, there are significant gaps in their implementation as evidenced by the data and community views of inconsistent, culturally unsafe, and poor practice. Thus, further work is required to achieve the desired outcomes.