Background:
The impetus for establishing Aboriginal & Islander Child Care Agencies came from the Aboriginal Legal Service in Victoria during the 1970’s, which identified a need for an Aboriginal child placement service. It observed that approximately 90% of its Aboriginal clients seeking assistance for criminal charges had been in some form of placement – foster, adoptive, or institutional placement. The formation of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) became a reality following the First National Conference on Adoption in 1976. This conference saw the issue of the adoption of Aboriginal children forced onto the mainstream agenda for the first time.
Founder:
The late Mollie Dyer visited the United States in 1976. The USA was working towards legislating the Indian Child Placement Principle, to which it did so under the United States Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. The ICWA transferred authority over Indian Children on reservations to Tribal courts and specified the manner of the subsequent placement of the child concerned. Indian courts therefore have jurisdiction over Indian children from reservations over the jurisdiction of State courts. The ICWA also enabled the Federal Government of the United States to fund other related services. Mollie Dyer returned inspired by the US achievements regarding the Native First peoples, and went on to establish with other Aboriginal community members in Melbourne the first Aboriginal community controlled child and family welfare service in 1977.
Overview:
The VACCA was initially funded by the Department of Social Security, Office of Child Care, in January 1978. The VACCA recognises that history and circumstances have weakened the ability of some of our families to provide such relationships. Across successive generations a cycle has developed of broken family relationships and of individuals who are alienated from their culture and vulnerable in society. We see the connection between this cycle and the many social problems our community faces.
VACCA believes that families who are strong in their community connectedness and culture will be more successful in raising resilient children and young people who are proud of who they are and where they come from. Our vision is –
“A community that is strong in culture, values children and young people and recognises the importance of the whole community in raising children and keeping families together.”
Current:
The VACCA is currently funded by the federal Department of Family Services and the Victorian state Department of Human Services to provide assistance and support to Aboriginal children and families who are experiencing social and economic problems which may contribute to a breakdown in the family structure. The VACCA also receives funding from ATSIC to deliver the Link Up Program which assists the Stolen Generations reuniting family members. As a community based and controlled agency, VACCA’s essential belief is the total self-management for Aboriginal communities throughout Victoria.
Timeline of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency From The 1970's to Now!
The 1970’s
February 1976 First National Adoption Conference held in Sydney, NSW where Aboriginal Task Force on Aboriginal Community and Adoption recommendation about establishment of the Aboriginal Child Placement Agency was unanimously accepted by the whole conference
February 1976 Establishment of the Aboriginal Child Placement Agency (ACPA) which operated from the Aboriginal Legal Service at 173 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. Mollie Dyer is appointed the Program Director, Glenda Nicholls its Secretary and Peter Rotumah its Field Officer
1977 National Symposium convened by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs ‘The Care and Treatment of Aboriginal Juvenile Delinquents’
15 November , 1977 Inaugural meeting to establish the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) as a Co-operative Society. Meeting chaired by Elizabeth Hoffman and Mollie Dyer its Secretary. Directors elected at the meeting were Elizabeth Hoffman, Janice Muir, Mollie Dyer, Phillip Cooper, Ralph White, Bernadette Dawson, Christine Bennett, Greg Lyons and Charlie Dyer
1977 Aunty Marj Tucker’s book ‘If Everyone Cared’ is published
5 December , 1977 The Aboriginal Child Placement Agency becomes a registered Co-operative Limited renamed the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, the first one of its kind in Australia and it operates from 11 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
January 1978 Grant received from Department of Social Security, Office of Child Care to establish staff [5.5 positions] at VACCA
1978 Regional meetings held to establish VACCAs regional services
April 1978 VACCA’s first Community Newsletter and Brochure launched. VACCA operates from 4 Brunswick Place, Fitzroy
May 1979 First VACCA camp for children [9-14 years] to Alice Springs, Northern Territory
1979 Victorian Social Welfare Department publicly acknowledges co-operation and consultation on all matters relating to the placement of Aboriginal children
1979 During International Year of the Child, VACCA and the Commonwealth Office of Child Care convene the first ‘Aboriginal Child Survival National Conference: ‘If Everyone Cared’
The 1980’s
1980 Fundraising Committee established to raise monies for Emergency Relief Payments
November VACCA Family Camp held at Halls Gap, Victoria
? Renowned singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder visits ACCA
1981 National peak body for Aboriginal Child Care Agencies Australia wide is established: Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies (SNAICC)
1981 VACCA Family Camp held at Lake Tyers, Victoria
1981 Review of the VACCA
May 1983 Establishment of 2 Family Group Homes in Melbourne which are offered from the Victorian Aboriginal Rental Housing Program managed by the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria
1984 Aboriginal Child Placement Principle endorsed
September , 1984 VACCA Camp for children (9-14 years) to Alice Springs, Northern Territory
1986 Sixth International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect
August 1988 National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day established by SNAICC and; supported/organised as one of VACCA's major community events annually since
1988 VACCA auspices the Wirramina Hostel Youth Crisis Centre
1988 Adoption Caseworker is now changed to Permanent Care Worker
1988 Launch of the Protocol between VACCA and DHS
1993 ATSIC funds VACCA to establish Link-Up Victoria Program
August 1994 VACCA relocates to 34 Wurruk Avenue, Preston
1995 ATSIC fund Link-Up Victoria for 2 more full time position
1995 Presentation of plaques to Life Members – Fay Carter, Mollie Dyer, Ron James and Bobby Nicholls
1996 Review of VACCA by Department of Human Services
July 1997 VACCA offices at Wurruk Avenue, Preston named the Mollie Dyer House
December VACCA declared an Aboriginal Agency and published in Government Gazette
1998 Establishment of Program Manager Position
1998 VACCA and Edmund Rice Koorie Kids Camp held at Phillip Island, Victoria
November 1999 VACCA’s Child Care Program renamed Lakidjeka Program
1999 VACCA/Edmund Rice Koorie Kids Camp held at Phillip Island, Victoria
Early 2000s
December 2000 VACCA’s Wilka Kwe Program established in Southern Region
2000 VACCA funded for Stolen Generations Debriefing Officer Position
2000 VACCA’s first Christmas celebrations for Carers, children young people
2000 Memorandum of Understanding established between VACCA and National Archives Australia
2001 Department of Human Services increase funds for additional 5 positions
2001 VACCA funded to provide Caregiver Training and VACCA database
2001 Launch of Aboriginal Resource and Cultural Guide
2001Review of the VACCA/DHS Protocol
2001 Children, young people and Carers attend Werribee Open Range Zoo
2002 DHS funds the Lakidjeka Program for the first time and Lakidjeka (ACSASS) launched
2002 VACCA funded for a feasibility study for a proposed “Family Centre”
2002 Launch of renegotiated Protocol between VACCA and DHS
2002 Launch of KKIC N ARP funding by Vic Health
2002 Establishment of Early Intervention & Prevention Programs
2002 Establishment of Parenting and Home Visiting Programs
June 2003 Mollie Dyer’s book ‘Room for One More’ published
6-8 October 2004 VACCA holds the first Victorian Aboriginal Community Child Abuse Conference ‘Families are Forever: Building Them Strong’
2005 VACCA moves to 139 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick
From 2006 TO 2008
2006 VACCA celebrates 25th year anniversary
2006 $½m contribution to “Moondani Family Centre”, VACCA’s Family Centre by Cheryl Garbutt, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Children
2006 Commencement of ‘Yarning Up on Trauma’ training with the Take Two Program at Berry Street
2007 VACCA facilitates Aboriginal Community Organisations, Capacity Building Group Network
January 2008 No of staff positions at VACCA number141
2008 VACCA wins DHS tender to develop CSO Registration Standards Cultural Competence Framework
2008 VACCA enters formal partnership with Berry Street and MacKillop Family Services
2008 VACCA finalizes it five year Strategic Plan
4-6 June 2008 VACCA convenes national conference ‘The River of Culture Runs Deep: Learning from Old Ways, Creating a New Approach’
December 2008 Commencement of case contracting as a prelude to Section 18 under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
2009
2009 Launch of ‘Yarning Up on Trauma’ training booklet with Berry Street
March 2009 Relaunch of Koorie Faces Program
April, 2009 VACCA’s first Cultural Camp for girls held in Portland. Cultural Camp for boys held in Portland during June/July 2009
July, 2009 VACCA wins DHS tender to roll out training on the CSO Registration Standards Cultural Competence Framework and training of child and family welfare mainstream organisation staff conducted throughout the state
November, 2009 VACCA wins a VAEAI Wurruker Award for our Staff Wellbeing Program