The Yoorrook Justice Commission has the opportunity to hold successive Victorian Governments and private child welfare providers accountable for their failures to protect and support Aboriginal children, according to a submission made by the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) today.
In her evidence to the Commission’s hearing, VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett called for a properly funded, standalone Aboriginal child protection plan and system run by Aboriginal people, as the only way to achieve justice and support for Aboriginal children and their families, after centuries of racist policies, legislation and reinforced discriminatory practice.
Only when these failures are confronted, acknowledged and fixed will Aboriginal children and their families receive the justice they deserve and the systems and processes that can best assist them in the future.
VACCA’s submission acknowledges that Victoria has, by far, the best child protection system in Australia. On the face of it, Aboriginal children and families have never been in better hands, or better supported to thrive and be connected to their culture. The truth, however, is this record investment, created and maintained by successive Victorian Governments, entrenches disadvantage, intergenerational poverty and cultural genocide on Aboriginal Victorians as a condition of help and support.
However, due to the strength, resilience and activism of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Victoria has also seen great innovation, achievements and changed life trajectories, with pioneers like VACCA that leads and inspires success in others.
The evidence shows government and mainstream providers do not provide the most appropriate care for Aboriginal children and families.
Aboriginal children are returned to safe and supportive families by Aboriginal-led childcare agencies at twice the rate of other providers (Inside Policy, 2019), further proof that an Aboriginal-run system leads to better outcomes.
The 52 recommendations VACCA has made to the Commission respond to the two Issues Papers on the systemic injustices in both child protection and criminal justice. VACCA’s submission paints a picture of what child protection for Aboriginal children would look like in Victoria without VACCA and its 45 years of activism. The outcome of all the recommendations is self-determination.
VACCA views the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s process as an opportunity to develop not only a thorough account of the injustices experienced by Aboriginal peoples in Victoria, but to critically examine the reforms that have been put in place thus far to address both historical and contemporary injustices.
VACCA views the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s process as an opportunity to develop not only a thorough account of the injustices experienced by Aboriginal peoples in Victoria, but to critically examine the reforms that have been put in place thus far to address both historical and contemporary injustices.
While this current call for submissions is limited to child protection and criminal justice, we strongly recommend that Yoorrook’s inquiry looks into every part of the systems that have disenfranchised, oppressed and traumatised Aboriginal peoples for generations.
View the VACCA Yoorrook submission.
Quotes by VACCA CEO, Muriel Bamblett
“This Commission is not the first time truth telling has occurred. The massacre sites in Victoria are well known. As are the Government’s forced removal-of-children policies, practices and their impacts, as well as Victoria’s current growing rates of Aboriginal child removals. The most important truth this commission can unlock is what Government has done, or failed to do, to rectify these truths.”
“Every problem we have today in Victoria’s child protection and criminal justice systems is a direct result of centuries of racist policies, legislation and reinforced discriminatory practice. So many inquiries, where successive governments listen but take no action.”
“Victoria’s infatuation with a system that places less value on the lives and cultures of Aboriginal children needs to stop. We need a standalone Aboriginal Child protection plan and system run by Aboriginal people if we are to Close the Gap.”
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is the State’s leading Aboriginal child and family services organisation, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people and families in the community for 45 years, as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we work towards the healing of the Aboriginal community by strengthening the safety, wellbeing and culture connectedness of vulnerable community members, particularly children.
Contacts:
Nikita Blom, Communications Manager VACCA
T: 0422 048 352 / E: Nikitab@vacca.org
Sarah Gafforini, Director Office of the CEO VACCA
T: 0427 0621 421/ E: Sarahg@vacca.org
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.