Last week, VACCA CEO Aunty Muriel Bamblett delivered a keynote address at the 2024 AbSec Conference on Darug Country in NSW, highlighting the importance of ongoing investment in Aboriginal approaches to best support children and families as the sector continues to reform. The AbSec Conference, held over three days, is an annual gathering for professionals who work alongside Aboriginal children, young people and families to discuss their work in a supportive community environment.
After 25 years advocating on behalf of Aboriginal children and families, the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the rest of Australia is at an important crossroads.
“We need to look at how decisions made today will affect tomorrow,” said Aunty Muriel. “Our ultimate goal is always to get children home, and keep them there safely.”
Building these capabilities within our organisation and across the sector is essential to developing and securing funding for programs which have Aboriginal ways of being and doing at their heart. Communities must be empowered to deliver programs and services that are designed with the best interests of our children and young people.
“We need better coordination and collaboration within the sector to be able to address this increase we are seeing,” Aunty Muriel said. “That is why coming together and sharing our experience and knowledge is important - we learn from one another and can apply these learnings where we live.”