Reviewing Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle Northern Territory 2021

Introduction

Reviewing Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle Northern Territory 2021 reviews the progress of the Northern Territory Government, through the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities (Department), in implementing the full intent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (Child Placement Principle).

The five elements of the Child Placement Principle are: Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation, and Connection.

The aim of the Child Placement Principle is to:

• embed an understanding that culture is integral to safety and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and is embedded in policy and practice;
• recognise and protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, family members and communities in child safety matters;
• support self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in child safety matters; and
• reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) systems.

This year’s review analyses implementation efforts over the financial year 1 July 2020–30 June 2021 (2020-2021). This change from the previous May-April reporting period better aligns with jurisdictions’ data and activity reporting cycles and with policy and legislative changes made during the year. While the change has meant that May–June 2020 may have been missed, stakeholders were strongly encouraged to provide any pertinent information that occurred in these two months.

The annual jurisdictional reviews are developed by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) with input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) and state and territory governments. The reviews are informed by the best practice approach set out in SNAICC’s Child Placement Principle resource series, the 2018 Baseline Analysis of Child Placement Principle and subsequent annual reviews of the Baseline Analysis undertaken by SNAICC.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis is used to measure and review jurisdictions’ progress against the five elements and across five interrelated systems elements – legislation, policy, programs, processes, and practice.

Quantitative data is taken primarily from chapter 16 (Child Protection) of the 2022 Report on Government Services and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Child Protection Australia 2020-21 report (AIHW Report). OOHC figures in this review comprise ‘out-of-home care’ and ‘third party parental responsibility orders’ from the AIHW report. Data on ‘children of unknown Indigenous status in out-of-home care’ have not been included in this review’s figures.

These reviews map implementation progress and gaps across Australia, highlight governments’ reform successes, and hold governments accountable to their efforts (or lack thereof) in achieving better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. In this way, they align with the priority reform areas of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, including Priority Reform 4 on improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ access to data that affects them and their communities.

SNAICC issued requests for information to state and territory departments responsible for child protection and family support in each jurisdiction, to provide information that shows significant progress and reforms towards achieving full implementation of the Child Placement Principle between 1 July 2020-30 June 2021. Some of the information requested was not provided and, in some cases, jurisdictions advised that this is because they do not collect or record the data sought. SNAICC also sought clarification from jurisdictions after the initial requests for information and provided them with an opportunity to review the draft reports, add information and/or correct any errors.

State governments reported that progress in implementing the Child Placement Principle during this period of review was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The review therefore acknowledges that delivery and implementation of some programs and initiatives was delayed due to COVID related restrictions and the need to prioritise government resources.

The reviews come out of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020. The next ten-year framework, Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031, goes further by embedding a stronger focus on and promoting and enabling full implementation of the Child Placement Principle.