Indigenous children are more than 10 times more likely to be removed from their families by child protection authorities than other Australian children, a new report says, prompting calls for urgent action.
A report launched on Wednesday by the Family Matters coalition, which comprises more than 150 Indigenous organisations and academics, has found the number of children removed from their families will triple over the next 20 years.
The figure has led a Family Matters co-chair, Gerry Moore, to call for the commonwealth and state governments to develop a program to address the causes of family removals.
The report found that in many cases the primary causes were poverty and family violence. It also stresses that discrimination plays a role and that Indigenous families have lower access to family support services.
“We are deeply shocked by the projection of current trends showing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care will almost triple by 2035 – this is a stark warning that we need a new approach,” Moore said.
“The Family Matters campaign demands a Coag strategy to urgently address this national crisis.”
The report outlines calls for a comprehensive government strategy to improve child protection, as well as a diversion of 30% of child protection funding into prevention and early intervention. It also recommended appointing state-based commissioners who can act in the interests of Indigenous children in every state and territory.
Another Family Matters co-chair, Natalie Lewis, said: “It is discriminatory, and it is all of our responsibility to work together to ensure all children are afforded the best chance to grow up nurtured and cared for connected to their family and culture.”
