MEDIA RELEASE
15/10/09
AbSec supports giving priority to Kinship/Family placements in NSW.
The Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec)
believes that
Community Services (DoCS) has it right when giving priority to considering kinship placements for
Aboriginal Children in the care system. Whilst it is everybody’s wish that all children in the system
be placed to avoid physical and emotional harm, it has been acknowledged on many occasions
over many years, that previous government policies of placing Aboriginal children in non-Aboriginal
foster placements and institutions has led to a legacy of “culturally” damaged Aboriginal adults.
AbSec is dismayed at the ongoing attacks from parts of the media and other sectors which attempt
to diminish the importance of kinship care.
The current Minister of Community Services, Linda Burney has shown a commitment to developing
a better system to “Keep Them Safe” as recommended by Justice James Wood. Those
recommendations included better adherence to s.13 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and
Protection) Act as related to the Aboriginal Placement Principle which emphasises the importance
of kinship care.
AbSec believes that if appropriate Police/Working with Children checks
are undertaken,
thorough
assessments of prospective family/kinship carers are made and adequate and equal supports are
provided - then not only can kinship carers provide a safe, loving environment for the child but can
achieve better long term outcomes. These benefits include
keeping
Aboriginal children connected
to their culture and community -
thereby avoiding another “lost” generation of Aboriginal people
transferring trans-generational trauma.
At a recent community forum for Keep Them Safe, Minister Burney said, “As Commissioner Wood
said after his enquiry, we all need to share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children –
parents, families and the whole community. When a child has to be removed, the most important
thing is a safe, stable, long term placement. If extended family are assessed as suitable that is
often the best option.”
Bill Pritchard the CEO of AbSec said, “Reforming the system doesn’t mean we have to revert to
past damaging practices. No child protection system is perfect but the acknowledgement of past
damages done to Aboriginal people should enlighten the broader community’s thinking when
considering placing Aboriginal children with non-Aboriginal foster carers. We fully support the
Minister and DoCS on this issue”.
For further comment:
Bill Pritchard - Executive Officer - mobile 0408 888 698
ph: 02 9264 0088 fax: 02 9264 0090 email eo@absec.org.au
The Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) is the peak
NSW Aboriginal organisation giving voice to and supporting Aboriginal children, families
and their communities within the child and communities services sector.
NEWS 
