Slide1: Lucyna MacDermott, Lumac Group for Absec Terry Donnelly, Absec ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE POSITIVE FUTURES 2006 ACWA CONFERENCE,SYDNEY This presentation is an introduction to the topic and issues of Aboriginal Kinship Care. A more comprehensive position paper is being prepared by Absec.


Slide2: THE FACE OF ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE


Slide3: Aboriginal Kinship Care and contemporary child welfare system Factions Capacity ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE ‘SOCIAL JUSTICE IS WHAT YOU FACE IN THE MORNING’


ABORIGINAL CARE AND ITS FIT IN CONTEMPORARY CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM: ABORIGINAL CARE AND ITS FIT IN CONTEMPORARY CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM


ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE REQUIRES ITS OWN STRATEGY, STRUCTURE AND FUNDING: ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE REQUIRES ITS OWN STRATEGY, STRUCTURE AND FUNDING BUT How does the 110 kph speed limit apply to the bicycle……? THE SAME OR DIFFERENT…


Slide6: [i] Adapted from Jackson, S (1999) Paradigm Shift in Kinship Foster Care (Hegar, R and Scannapieco, M ) Oxford University Press. and Bob Broad Reclaiming our children:Kinssip care for Children in Need IASSW Montpelier Conference 30 July 2002 at http://www.aforts.com/colloques_ouvrages/colloques/actes /interventions/broad_bob.doc) Reclaiming Our Children through Kinship Care[i]


Slide7: Aboriginal Kinship Care


WORKER ROLE- KNOWLEDGE - SKILLS: WORKER ROLE- KNOWLEDGE - SKILLS STATUTORY CARE ABORIGINAL KINSHIP CARE


Slide9: SYDNEY NOV 2005 MIMALI MATES 1998 VISITS TO COMMUNITIES 2005 20 GROUPS START UP 260 CARERS DATABASE TAMWORTH JULY 2006 HAVE A HEART BECOME A CARER Strategic directions Structure Ready to Be Heard Connecting our mob Emerging picture of the Aboriginal carers daily realities Emotions, anger, uncertainty Sharing experiences Call to action Building relationships Other milestones: Dubbo, Metropolitan,Tamworth OUR PATHWAY SO FAR History Resources Information/Education Placement Information


Slide10: C.O.P.E CONNECTING OUR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ACN ABORIGINAL CARERS NETWORK HISTORY IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY LIVE WITHOUT FEAR AND GUILT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF KINSHIP POLICY AND PRACTICE INTEGRATE THE TWO STREAMS OF CARING PAYMENTS AND SUPPORTS TO BE MADE CLEAR BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES


Slide11: CARERS AND CARER EPRESENTATIVES DIFFERENT LOCALITIES JOINT MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES REGIONAL GATHERINGS ONCE PER YEAR IN EACH OF THE 4 REGIONS TIMING: FEBRUARY, MAY, JULY/AUG,SEPTEMBER STATE GATHERING EARLY NOVEMBER DIRECTIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR FEEDBACK LOOP FROM REGIONAL GATHERINGS ABSEC OUR MODEL : NETWORK OF NETWORKS FUNDERS, POLICY MAKERS, HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR ABSEC


Building Bridges and Choices: SEEKING SERVICE Mainstream way Aboriginal way Extended family and community Care, Elders/Grannies, Circles, the Dreaming, Life Cycle Nuclear family, Clinical, Child Protection, Investigations, Statutory Care, Family Support Client Building Bridges and Choices


Slide13: CARERS Metro West Moree Miimali Mates Emerton Wollongong Kempsey Central Coast La Perouse Redfern Tweed Heads Consultant Armidale Wagga Wagga Newcastle Guyra Wee Waa Bourke Bathurst Orange Broken Hill ABSEC Tamworth WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER WORKERS Parkes Moruya Kari Carers -Liverpool Dubbo Nowra Condoblin DOCS