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SNAICC in the News – Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive in their early years & Linda Burney retirement

The week of 22 July, 2024, saw the ABC reporting on what it takes to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive in their early years, what is being done to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care and Linda Burney’s retirement, as well as Joint Statement released condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with disability.

The 7.30 story and ABC article look at challenges that many families face in accessing quality education for their children, highlighting that nationally in 2021, only 34.3 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children commencing school were assessed as being developmentally on track—emotionally, physically and socially—compared to 56.2 per cent of non-Indigenous children. In the story, Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, stresses that investing in accessible, affordable, culturally safe early education and strong community infrastructure is critical for supporting children’s development and has a significant impact on long-term outcomes for children. She calls for consistent funding and systemic change to effectively address these issues and emphasises the importance of early intervention, as positive early experiences correlate with better educational, health and employment outcomes later in life. 7.30 also aired and published a story about what is being done to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, citing Family Matters Report 2023, that almost three-quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention have had prior contact with the child protection system.

Last week, disturbing footage showed severe abuse and mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with disabilities in Queensland’s adult watchhouses. This week, in response, First Peoples Disability Network, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services in Queensland and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children released a Joint Statement condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with disability.

The Hon. Linda Burney has announced her retirement from federal politics, on Friday, 26 July. Burney, a Wiradjuri woman and Minister for Indigenous Australians, first entered politics in 2003 and will retire at the next election, in the meantime will relinquish her role as Minister for Indigenous Australians and move to the backbench, as reported by SBS NITV. Burney was the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the federal House of Representatives and has been hailed for her ‘courage’ and ‘dedication’.

For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.

Topic: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive in their early years

This week, ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Team, Kirstie Wellauer and Stephanie Boltje, looked at what it takes to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive at school.

The 7.30 story and ABC article look at challenges that many families face in accessing quality education for their children. The story follows Liam Reid and Nicole Kunoth Hampton, who, despite moving from the remote community of Mimili to Mparntwe/Alice Springs in search of better educational opportunities, are confronted with overcrowded living conditions and a lack of basic necessities, which are putting barriers up for their children to access education. Liam Reid, an Arrernte Kaytetye man and former teaching assistant, gives a firsthand account of how quality childcare services can profoundly transform a child’s life trajectory. He says that factors such as poverty, entrenched disadvantage, overcrowded homes and a lack of access to basic necessities create significant barriers and make it more difficult for children to attend school or preschool.

The article highlights research that shows ages zero to five are crucial for a child’s brain development, noting that nationally in 2021, only 34.3 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children commencing school were assessed as being developmentally on track—emotionally, physically and socially—compared to 56.2 per cent of non-Indigenous children. Under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, governments have made a commitment to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) to 55 per cent. Nationally, based on progress from the baseline, the target is worsening.

In the story, Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, says that Closing the Gap starts with our children. She argues that investing in accessible, affordable, culturally safe early education and strong community infrastructure is critical for supporting children’s development and has a significant impact on long-term outcomes for children. Catherine points to inconsistencies in government funding and inadequate support for community-controlled programs as contributing factors to the disparity between mainstream and community-led services. She calls for consistent funding and systemic change to effectively address these issues and emphasises the importance of early intervention, as positive early experiences correlate with better educational, health and employment outcomes later in life.

According to the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Closing the Gap is a joint responsibility of all levels of government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak representative bodies. NIAA reports that approximately $160 million has been invested in early childhood development since the target’s inception in 2020. However, Catherine argues that the biggest investments into early education and care in Australia are not in the Aboriginal community-controlled sector, instead they are in the mainstream. A review by the Productivity Commission of the Closing the Gap Agreement found that governments at all levels do not face appropriate consequences for failing to meet their commitments. Minister for Early Education Anne Aly acknowledged that more needs to be done, with progress most notable where governments collaborate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities.

This week, 7.30 also aired and published a story about what is being done to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. The story highlights that, at a national level, once Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter the system, only one in every six children will return to their families and many will end up in youth detention. Citing Family Matters Report 2023, almost three-quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention have had prior contact with the child protection system.

For complete coverage, view the news and media stories linked below.

Article: What it takes to help First Nations children thrive at school – 7.30 (ABC)
(released 23 July)

Excerpt:

“Closing the Gap starts with our children,” said Arrernte and Luritja woman Catherine Liddle, the CEO of the peak body representing First Nations children, SNAICC.
“We’ve always understood that if you look after your children, you have a strong community. If you have strong communities and strong families, then pretty much everyone’s doing OK.”
Ms Liddle said investing in accessible, affordable and culturally safe early education is so important because of the profound impacts on children’s life outcomes down the line.
Getting the early years right impacts the gross rates of Indigenous children going into child protection, into youth justice, and then as adults ending up in jail. 
“There is a direct correlation,” she said.
“If you have access to preschool you’re more likely to finish year 12, to have better access to health, jobs, you’re going to have better life trajectories.”

Watch the full story

Video: Pursuing better education outcomes for First Nations students – 7.30 (ABC)
(aired 23 July)

Excerpt:

“CATHERINE LIDDLE, SNAICC CEO:  It should never be acceptable that where you are born, and who you are born to impacts on your life trajectory. 
KIRSTIE WELLAUER:  Arrernte and Luritja woman Catherine Liddle runs the organisation that advocates for First Nations little ones. 
CATHERINE LIDDLE:  Families cannot thrive if they do not have the architecture and the infrastructure in their communities to thrive.
KIRSTIE WELLAUER:  She says funding has not been consistent in meeting the needs of Aboriginal children across election cycles.
CATHERINE LIDDLE:  Now that is failure by governments to invest in the right set of criteria, into the right type of service delivery and to move at the speed that it needs to move at.”

Watch the full story

Article: The number of Indigenous kids in out of home care is at an all-time high. What is being done about it? – 7.30 (ABC)
(released 25 July)

Excerpt:

Nationally, once Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter the system, only one in six will return to their family.
Many will end up in youth detention. One survey found almost three-quarters of Indigenous children in detention had prior contact with the child protection system.
“We are at a complete crisis,” says Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, who grew up in foster care in New South Wales from age 10.

Read the full article

Topic: Condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of First Nations children with disability

Last week, disturbing footage was released showing severe abuse and mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with disabilities in Queensland’s adult watchhouses.

In an SBS The Feed and Guardian Australia investigation, footage was shown of a child with intellectual disabilities subjected to extreme abuse and solitary confinement. In the investigation, it is revealed that children as young as 11 are being held in Queensland police facilities designated for drunk and disorderly adults, known as watchhouses, with some ending up in ‘the box’ – a tiny, freezing cold isolation cell with no mattress, toilet or windows.

In response, First Peoples Disability Network, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services in Queensland and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children released a Joint Statement condemning the state sanctioned abuse and mass incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with disability.

In the Joint Statement, the organisations call upon the Queensland Government to:
  • immediately reinstate the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) in relation to children detained in police watchhouses
  • abolish the practice of solitary confinement for children
  • improve intersectional disability data collection in custodial settings
  • implement effective screening and supports for First Nations children with disability
  • mandate disability rights informed training for all custodial staff.

In the statement, the organisations strongly condemn the actions seen in the footage, which are in no way justified or necessary. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, particularly those living with disabilities, are grossly over-represented in detention facilities. The poor data collection and diagnostic practices mean the true extent of disability among these children remains unknown. The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability had recommended banning solitary confinement (Recommendation 8.3), yet it remains prevalent.

National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds recently conducted an investigation, interviewing approximately 150 children and visiting Queensland’s watchhouses. She reported that children, including those living with cognitive disabilities, were detained in cells designed for adults. These cells lacked basic amenities such as natural light, ventilation and outdoor space. Hollonds said that the conditions were so harsh that they could lead to severe psychological distress and criticised the lack of training for custodial staff in handling children with complex needs. Hollonds has called for a reevaluation of the criminal justice system’s approach to children, saying that the current practices are failing to address underlying issues and instead contributing to further criminalisation and trauma. Her upcoming Human Rights Commission report will advocate for regular national discussions on child safety and wellbeing, a public health approach to youth justice and improved media accountability.

Read the full Joint Statement below.
Joint Statement

Topic: NDIA Children’s Expert Advisory Group

This week, the Australian Government announced the establishment of the NDIA Children’s Expert Advisory Group to enhance the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) experience for children and their families.

Announced by Bill Shorten on 23 July, the new advisory group aims to address the needs of the approximately 13 per cent of Australian children aged 5 to 14 living with disabilities.

Key details:
  • Over 13% of Australian children aged 5-14 years have a disability.
  • The advisory group will focus on improving the NDIS for young participants, including enhancing engagement and communication, and providing strategies for better experiences.
  • Children under nine, even if not NDIS participants, can access early connections support, which has helped around 10,780 children as of March 31, 2024.
  • Early intervention services are available to support children with developmental concerns or disabilities, improving long-term outcomes.

The newly established Children’s Expert Advisory Group includes a diverse set of members from organisations that have expertise in early childhood and disability support. The group comprises:

  • Ellen Gould – NDIS Independent Advisory Council Reference Group Member 
  • Gretchen Young – SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children 
  • Jenny Karavolos – Australian Autism Alliance 
  • Morgan Fitzpatrick – Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention Network 
  • Samantha Page – Early Childhood Australia 
  • Sebastian Langdon-Macmillan – Member Youth Steering Committee 
  • Professor Sharon Goldfeld – Centre for Community Child Health 
  • Skye Kakoschke-Moore – Children and Young People with Disability Australia 
  • Sylvana Mahmic – NDIS Independent Advisory Council 
  • Dr Tim Moore – Centre for Community Child Health 
  • Professor Valsamma Eapen – University of NSW 
  • Yvonne Keane – Reimagine 

Minister Shorten emphasised the importance of early childhood supports, noting that the NDIS Review highlighted the need for a more holistic support system. The group’s work will focus on refining NDIA policies and practices to ensure children receive optimal support. The advisory group will also help the NDIA enhance communication and engage with participants directly to gather feedback on their experiences. Additionally, the NDIS offers early connections support for children under nine, even if they are not NDIS participants. 

For complete coverage, view the news and media stories linked below.
Find out more

Media release: Expert advisory group to help guide the NDIA on co-design and improvements to the NDIS for children and their families. The Hon Bill Shorten MP
(released 23 July)

Excerpt:

A new expert advisory group featuring some of Australia’s most respected early childhood experts will help shape improvements to the experience of children and their families in the NDIS.
The Minister for NDIS, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP announced the group today and said the Children’s Expert Advisory Group (Advisory Group) would work with the National Disability Insurance Agency to co-design improvements to the NDIS for children and their families, including those arising from NDIS Review recommendations accepted by the Government.
The Review identified several improvements to the NDIS so that children with disability and developmental delay get the support they need.
Some of these recommendations included making sure families can access supports that are best practice, that there is support to access the NDIS when its needed, and the NDIS and other systems like education work better together.

Read the full Media Release

Article: Child health expert praises establishment of new NDIS advisory group Disability Support Guide
(released 23 July)

Excerpt:

Chief Executive Officer of Children and Young People with Disability Skye Kakoschke-Moore explained why this advisory group will improve the NDIS experience for children with disability and their families.
“The NDIS provides vital support to children, particularly in the early years, but we know the scheme can be difficult to access and navigate,” she said.
“We look forward to working with government to ensure reforms meet the needs of our community and result in the best possible outcomes for children and young people.” 

Read the full article

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