Understanding and Applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle

A Resource for Legislation, Policy and Program Development: Published 2017

About This Resource

Understanding and Applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle provides a description of the definition of the five core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (the Child Placement Principle).

It is the first in a series of resources being produced by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children to support enhanced implementation of the Child Placement Principle in line with its intent to keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children safely connected to their families, communities and cultures. The resource is designed primarily for professionals engaged in legislation, policy and program design.

The development of this resource has been informed by the work of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 (the National Framework). The National Framework is a long-term collaboration between Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments – endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2009 – and non-government organisations to promote and enhance the safety and wellbeing of Australia’s children. It is premised on a goal to introduce a public health model to keep children safe and well, focusing on providing the universal and targeted supports that will prevent children entering out-of-home care.

The National Framework is now proceeding through implementation of its Third Three-Year Action Plan 2015-2018 (Third Action Plan). The Third Action Plan includes a commitment to reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children needing child protection services and sets out a strategy to focus on early intervention, supporting families, and embedding the Child Placement Principle throughout its work.

As a component of the Third Action Plan, States and Territories have committed to “continuing to fully implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle” and to the following specific action: All parties agree to ensure the five domains of the Child Placement Principle (prevention, partnership, placement, participation and connection) are applied to the implementation of strategies and actions identified in the Third Action Plan.

Through the Third Action Plan all Australian Governments have recognised that this broad definition of the Child Placement Principle must be applied if the Plan is to achieve its goal that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are “supported and safe in their families and communities”. To assist with efforts to put this commitment into practice, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group has developed this resource to provide guidance and support to policy makers on how to apply each of the Child Placement Principle’s elements.