Reviewing Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle Queensland 2019

Introduction

This report reviews the progress of the Queensland 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). These system elements are legislation, policy, programs, processes and practice.

The review therefore only considers the Child Placement Principle implementation efforts from 1 May 2018 – 30 April 2019.

Key findings of the Implementation Review for Queensland 2019

Queensland has continued to progress a number of significant reforms to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Strait Islander children in the child protection system under Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families (2017-2037).

The 2019-20 Budget provided $14.6 million over four years, plus other investments, to implement new and enhanced Our Way initiatives. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Queensland are now 8.5 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care than a non-Indigenous child. This is a slight decrease from the previous year (8.6 times more likely in 2016-17) and is the lowest rate of over-representation nationally. While this rate is significantly lower than some states and territories, it remains high and it is important that progress continues to achieve compliance with each element of the Child Placement Principle and significantly reduce the current rate of over-representation.