Reviewing Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle Victoria 2019
Introduction
This report reviews the progress of the Victorian 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 Victoria 2019
Victoria has one of the strongest legislative and policy frameworks in Australia for implementing the full intent of the Child Placement Principle.
It has built on this in the reporting period with the continuation of a range of policy and program responses to the recommendations identified by the Commission for Children and Young People in the Always Was, Always Will Be Koori Children and In the Child’s Best Interests inquiries. ‘Connection’ has also been a focus this period, with the 2018-19 State budget allocating $11.9 million over four years to continue the new model of cultural planning as an ongoing program.
Further, cultural plan templates and Cultural Planning Practice Guidelines are in development to enable better recording of information in accordance with the outcomes of a recent independent evaluation. Once again, practice appears to be lagging behind, however, with only 26% of Aboriginal children in OOHC having a cultural plan approved and signed off by the CEO of the local Aboriginal community controlled organisation (ACCO), as at December 2018 and 34% as at June 2019.