Elements of the Placement Principle:

Knowing what to expect can pave a way forward towards positive outcomes and support those involved. ATSICPP is an empowering tool and resource that can be used to measure accountability.

Prevention Protecting children’s rights to grow up in family, community and culture by redressing causes of child protection intervention.

Partnership Ensuring the participation of community, representatives in service design, delivery and individual case decisions.

Participation Ensuring the participation of children, parents and family members in decisions regarding the care and protection of their children.

Placement Placing children in out of home care in accordance with the established ATSICPP placement hierarchy: With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander relatives or extended family members, or other relatives and family members; or

With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the child’s community; or with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family based carers.

If the above preferred options are not available, as a last resort the child may be placed with a non-Indigenous carer or in a residential setting.

If the child is not placed according to the highest priority, the placement must be within close geographic proximity to the child’s family.

Connection Maintaining and supporting connections to family, community, culture and country for children in out of home care.

Active Efforts:

Aligned with each element, Active Efforts states that there is a requirement for statutory agencies to clearly document and articulate to the courts the Active Efforts taken prior to seeking an order to remove a child and place them into out of home care.

Demonstrated Active Efforts by DCP can provide a positive way forward. Undemonstrated DCP Active Efforts can also be held to account.

Prevention Families are provided with information on the culturally safe supports and services available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Partnership Representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are resourced and enabled to participate in significant decisions for the care and protection of their children.

Placement Placements with non-Indigenous carers are regularly reviewed with a goal to reconnect children to placements with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kin.

Participation Families are provided opportunities to participate in Aboriginal family led decision making.

Connection Through scoping of family to identify culturally connected placements through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies.

For Aboriginal parents, family and community, common and familiar complaints about the Department of Child Protection (DCP) in SA involve:

• Opportunistic behaviour by DCP to take a child.

• DCP appearing to do whatever they want, when they want with no accountability.

• DCP using disparities and injustices that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as a reason to take a child.

• No translator or support person present for an Aboriginal mum, who does not speak English as a first language, to explain DCP actions to take a child.

• Being left out of discussions regarding the child’s background and cultural bloodline links.

• An unwillingness to communicate and or engage with the parent and family.

• DCP practice that ensures disconnection from culture and identity.

• Being coerced and or bullied into signing Orders that are not agreed to or understood.

• Not being involved and having a voice at the table to determine best outcomes for the child(ren) and formulation of a reunification plan.

• No evidence to show adherence to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.