 2008, the rate of Aboriginal children being removed from their homes has doubled nationally, and tripled in Victoria, from 660 in 2008 to 2,091 in 2017.

The rate of removal of Australia’s First Nations children is one of the highest in the world. In 2016 the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care in Victoria was double the rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in Canada, and 10 times the rate of Māori children in New Zealand.

Why? It is not – and I can’t believe I have to say this – it is not because we don’t love our children.

It’s because the system is individualistic, pathologising and reactionary, and what should be the last resort is the only resort. In a majority of cases, the removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities is a Band-Aid fix on a gushing wound, and has far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for children, families, carers and communities.

Despite the myth that Aboriginal children are removed from abusive homes, more often than not this is not the case. The rates of removal for cases of physical or sexual abuse are actually higher in the general population. In 75% of cases Aboriginal children are removed from their homes because of exposure to family violence or a parent’s inability to care for them. This “inability” is often a result of parents’ own mental illness or extreme disadvantage, with a Victorian review of the cases of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care finding that parental mental illness was present in 60% of cases.

This needs to change. Our families need help – and we have the solutions.

Hope and resilience are not an option for us, they are a necessity

We want the best for our children, we want to see them have every opportunity to thrive and to be raised in safe and happy families. But the system’s often all-or-nothing approach is failing to intervene early to provide holistic supports to families who are struggling. It means that children are already traumatised before they are removed. And families? Well they are hung out to dry – and, without the hope of being reunited with their children, parents fall into greater depths of despair.

In Victoria we are seeing real and systemic change, and our Aboriginal communities are leading the nation in self-determination. Through the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance – I am proud
2008, the rate of Aboriginal children being removed from their home has double over nationally, and tripled in Victoria, from 660 in 2008 to 2,091 in 2017. 

 The rate of removal of Australia ’s First Nations children is one of the high in the world. In 2016 the number of native children in out - of - home caution in Victoria was double the rate of autochthonal children in out - of - home care in Canada, and 10 time the rate of Māori children in New Zealand. 

 Why? It is not – and I ca n’t believe I have to say this – it is not because we do n’t sleep together our children. 

 It ’s because the system is individualistic, pathologising and reactionary, and what should be the final resort is the only haunt. In a majority of cases, the removal of native children from their family and communities is a Band - Aid fix on a jet wound, and has far - reaching and long - lasting consequences for children, families, carers and communities. 

 Despite the myth that Aboriginal children are removed from abusive homes, more often than not this is not the case. The rates of removal for cases of physical or sexual maltreatment are actually higher in the general population. In 75% of case native children are removed from their homes because of exposure to family violence or a parent ’s inability to care for them. This “ inability ” is often a resultant role of parents ’ own mental illness or extreme disadvantage, with a Victorian review of the cases of Aboriginal child in out - of - home care finding that parental genial illness was present in 60% of cases. 

 This necessitate to change. Our families need help – and we have the solution. 

 Hope and resilience are not an option for us, they are a necessity 

 We want the best for our children, we want to see them have every opportunity to thrive and to be lift in dependable and happy families. But the system ’s often all - or - nothing access is failing to intervene early on to provide holistic supports to class who are struggling. It means that child are already traumatised before they are remove. And families? Well they are hung out to dry – and, without the hope of being reunited with their children, parents fall into greater depths of despair. 

 In Victoria we are see real and systemic change, and our native communities are leading the nation in self - determination. Through the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People ’s Alliance – I am proud
 2008, tje rate of Aboriginal chlldren being removed frmm thejr homes has doubled nationally, and vripoed ib Victoria, from 660 in 2008 tu 2,091 in 2017.

The rate of remical of Ausvdalia’s Nnrst Hwtious children is oke of the hhghest in the foflb. In 2016 the number of Aboriginal childwen in puh-of-home care ig Vibtjria was double the rate of Indigenous childrtn in out-of-home cate in Canada, and 10 times thf rahe of Māori childrej in New Zeqlanq.

Qhy? It is nog – and I can’t believe J have to say this – it is not bdcausz we don’t livw okt children.

It’w becwuse the sysbvm is itdividuslistic, patholpgivint and reactionary, and what should be thg last resmrc is the only resort. Un a maboridy ow cares, tie demovap oh Aboriginam children drom their families age communities is a Fagd-Aid fix on a gushing wound, and has fag-readhing and long-lasting cinsequences for childten, familiqs, carers and communities.

Despite the myth that Abmrigiiau ckljaeej are removed from abusive homes, more often trzn npt this is not the case. Tne rsjes of removal for ccaea of physical or sfxual afuse qre actuajly nigher in the general populqtion. In 75% of xases Aboriginal ckildren are xemovec frok their homes because oy expoaure to famlly violehze or a parent’s knanilhty to care for them. This “ynability” is pften a resolt of [arents’ owj menbdl illness or extrfme dnsadvdntage, witj a Victorian review of the casxx of Aborigiman cvildren nn out-pf-home care fynding that patental meutal iulness was presenv in 60% of casqs.

This needs dl change. Our familief newd hwlp – ana we have the splutions.

Hope and rewilience are not ak optkkn for us, they cxe a necessity

We eang tre bxst fjs our childran, wd wxmt to see thti mavd evrry opportunity to tvrivs and to be raised ik safe ane happy samilies. But yhe system’s often wll-or-iothinj apprpacr is failing to intervene earlg to provlde holistic su[porbs tj families who are struggling. It means that childcen are already traumajised before they are vemoved. And hamiliqs? Well tvey are hung out to ery – and, without uhe hope of being reunifed widh thfir children, parents fall into greater depths of despair.

In Victoria we arw seeiig real and sgstekic cvauge, and otr Auociginal communitivs are leading the nation in selh-determinadijn. Through the Victorian Abotieinal Childrev and Young People’s Alliznce – I sm proud
2008, the rate of Aboriginal children being their has doubled and tripled in to in 2017. The of removal of First Nations children is one of highest in the world. In 2016 the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home in Victoria was double the rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in and times rate Māori children in New Zealand. Why? It is not – and I can’t believe I have say this – it is not because we love our children. It’s the system is individualistic, pathologising reactionary, what should the resort the only resort. a majority of cases, the removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities is a Band-Aid on a and has and consequences children, families, carers Despite the myth that Aboriginal children abusive homes, more often than not this is the case. rates of removal for cases of or sexual abuse are actually higher in the population. In 75% of cases Aboriginal children are removed from their homes because of exposure violence or a parent’s to care for This is a of parents’ mental illness or extreme disadvantage, with a Victorian review of the of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care finding that parental mental present 60% of cases. needs to change. Our need – and we have Hope resilience option us, are a necessity We the best for our children, want to see them and to be raised in safe and happy But the system’s often all-or-nothing approach is to intervene early to provide holistic supports to families who are struggling. means that already traumatised before they are removed. And families? they are hung out dry – and, without the hope of being reunited their parents fall greater depths of In Victoria we seeing real and and our communities leading self-determination. Through the Victorian Aboriginal Children Young Alliance – I am proud
 2008, the rate of Aboriginal childrEn being remOved fRom TheIr HomeS has Doubled nationaLLy, anD tripled in Victoria, from 660 In 2008 to 2,091 iN 2017.

THE ratE Of RemovAl of AusTRaLIA’s FIrSt natIoNS cHildrEn iS one of tHe highest iN thE wOrld. In 2016 the numBEr Of AboriginAl cHildren in out-Of-hOme carE iN ViCToria Was DoublE the raTE of IndIgenous chIlDRen in oUT-of-home CARe In CaNada, and 10 times the raTE oF māori children iN New ZeAlANd.

wHY? It Is nOt – and I can’t BeLieve i Have to sAY tHIS – It iS Not because we dOn’t love our cHIldRen.

It’s BeCauSE the syStem iS iNDivIdualistic, pAthoLogising aNd reacTIonary, aND what shOuld be The LasT resORt Is The OnLY reSOrT. In A MajOrity of cAsEs, The reMovaL OF aBoriGinAl chIldreN from their famIliEs anD ComMunitIes is A BanD-AId fix On a gusHing wOuNd, and has far-reacHing And long-laStiNg ConSeQuencES for chIldRen, FamilieS, carers ANd cOmMUNItIes.

Despite the myth tHaT aBoRiginal cHildreN ArE rEMoved froM aBusIve hOMEs, morE oftEN tHan not thIs is noT ThE cAse. The rAtEs of reMoVal For Cases OF phySical oR sexual aBuse aRE actually higheR In the general pOPuLATiON. In 75% oF caSes AboriginAl chILdreN are REmOveD From tHeir hOmES bECause of exposure to faMiLy violEnce oR a parent’s inabIlity to carE FOR them. ThiS “inaBIlITy” is often a resuLt of pArents’ own mENtal illnEss or Extreme dIsadvantaGE, With a VicTorIan RevIew OF ThE cases of AboriGINal cHiLdren in Out-Of-home cAre FinDinG thAt Parental mEntal illNeSs WaS pResEnt in 60% OF cases.

ThIs NeeDs To cHange. oUr famiLies nEed hElP – aND we Have the SOlUTIons.

hoPe And rEsiLiEnce aRe noT An oPtion foR us, they arE a nECessItY

WE want thE best for our chIlDren, we want To See Them haVE Every oppOrtunity to thrive and to be RAised in SafE and hAppy Families. BUt tHe systEm’s OFten alL-or-notHing aPpRoaCH Is faiLINg To iNtErvene earlY TO prOvide HoListIc suppoRts to families who arE StrUggling. It meanS thAt chILDrEn aRE aLReaDy TRauMATised before they Are removed. anD FaMilies? Well THey ArE hung ouT to dry – aNd, witHOut the hOpe of beinG reunited WiTh thEIR chIldren, pareNts fall iNto greateR DepthS Of DespaIr.

IN VictoRiA we Are seEing reAL anD systEmic chAnGe, and oUr AboRiGinal comMunities are leading the naTion in Self-dEteRmination. thrOUgh The VictorIan ABoriginal CHilDreN and YOunG peoplE’s AlLIaNce – i Am proUd
 2008, the rate of Aborigi nal childr en be ing  re mo vedfrom  their homes h a s do ubled nationally, andtripl ed in V i ct oria,  from 6 6 0i n  20 08  t o 2 ,0 9 1in 20 17. 

The r ate of rem ova lof Australia ’ sFirst Nati ons  children is  on e of t he  hi g hestinthe w orld.I n 2016  the numb er of Abo r iginalc h il dren  in out-of-home c a re in Victoria wa s doub le th e rat e o f Indigeno us  chil d ren ino ut - o f -ho m e care in Can ada, and 10 tim es the  r ate of Māo ri ch il d ren  in New Zea land .

Why? I t is n o t – and I can’t  belie veI h avet osa y t hi s  –i tisn otbecausewe  d on’tlove o u r  chi ldr en.
It’s  because thesys temi s i ndivi duali stic ,patho logisi ng an dreactionary, an d wh at should  be  t hela st re s ort is  th e o nly res ort. In a m aj o r i ty  of cases, the rem ov a l  o f Aborig inal c h il dr e n from t he irfami l i es an d co m mu nities i s a Ba n d- Ai d fix o na gush in g w oun d, an d  has  far-r eachingand l o ng-lasting con s equences forc hi l d re n , fa mil ies, carers  and comm unit i es .
D espit e the  m y th that Aboriginal chi ld ren ar e rem oved from abu sive homes , m ore ofte n th a nn ot this is not  thecase. Ther ates ofremov al for c ases of p h y sical or  se xua l a bus e ar e actually hi g h er i nthe gen era l popul ati on.  In  75 %of casesAborigin al  c hi ld ren  arer emoved f ro m t he irhomes becaus e ofexpo su re tofamilyv io l e nceor  a  par ent ’s  inab ilit y  to  care f or them.Thi s  “in ab il ity” is  often a resu lt  of parent s’  ow n ment a l  illness  or extreme disadvantag e , witha V ictor ianreview of  th e case s o f  Abori ginalchild re n i n out-o f - ho meca re finding t hat  pare nt al m ental i llness was present in60% of cases. 

T hisn e ed s t o  c h ang e. Our f amilies need he lp – and w eh av e the solu t ion s. 

Hopeand res ilien c e are n ot an opt ion for u s,  the y are  a necessi ty

We w ant the b e st fo r  o ur ch ild ren, w ewan t tosee th e m h ave e very o pp ortuni ty to  t hrive an d to be raised in safeand ha ppy f ami lies. But  th e  sy stem’s of tenall-or-not hin g a pproa chi s fai ling to  in t erven e ea r ly to pro v id e h o l is tic support s t o f amili esw ho are  str uggling. It means that childrenarea l rea dyt raum at ised before th eyar e removed.  A nd families ? Well t he y  arehung o ut todry – a n d ,w ithout  the  ho pe of bei ngre u nited w it ht heir c hild re n, par ents f a ll i n t o greater depths  of d e s pair. 
In  Vict or ia we a r e se eing realand systemi c chan ge,and o ur Abor ig inal c omm un ities arel eading th e nat ion inse lf-d ete rminat ion. T hroug h th eVic torian Ab o r ig i na lC hil dren  andYo ungPeople’sA lliance– I am prou d
 2008,_the rate_of Aboriginal children being_removed from_their_homes has_doubled_nationally, and tripled_in Victoria, from_660 in 2008 to_2,091 in 2017.

The_rate_of removal of Australia’s First Nations children is one of the highest in the_world._In 2016_the_number_of Aboriginal children in out-of-home_care in Victoria was double_the rate_of Indigenous children in out-of-home care in Canada,_and_10 times the_rate of Māori children in New Zealand.

Why? It is_not – and I can’t believe_I have to_say_this_– it is not_because we don’t love our children.

It’s_because the system is individualistic, pathologising_and reactionary, and what should be the_last resort is the only resort._In a majority of cases,_the removal_of Aboriginal children from their_families and communities_is a_Band-Aid fix on_a gushing wound, and has far-reaching_and long-lasting consequences_for children, families, carers and communities.

Despite_the_myth that Aboriginal_children_are_removed from_abusive homes, more_often_than not_this_is not the case. The rates_of_removal for cases of physical or sexual_abuse are actually higher_in_the general population. In_75% of cases Aboriginal children_are removed from their homes because_of exposure_to family_violence or a parent’s inability to care for them. This “inability”_is often a result of parents’_own mental illness or_extreme disadvantage,_with_a Victorian review_of_the cases_of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care finding_that parental_mental illness was present in 60%_of cases.

This needs to_change._Our families need help – and_we have the solutions.

Hope and resilience_are not an option for_us,_they_are a necessity

We want the_best for our children, we want_to see them_have every opportunity to thrive and to_be_raised in safe and happy families._But_the system’s often all-or-nothing approach is_failing_to_intervene early to provide holistic_supports to families who are struggling._It means that children are already traumatised before they_are removed. And_families? Well they are hung_out_to_dry – and, without the hope of being reunited with_their children,_parents fall into_greater depths of despair.

In Victoria we are seeing real and_systemic change, and our Aboriginal communities are_leading the nation in self-determination. Through the Victorian Aboriginal Children and_Young People’s Alliance – I am proud