At Anglicare Southern Queensland, we’re committed to supporting Reconciliation for First Nations children in care.
National Reconciliation Week is held annually between 27 May and 03 June. It marks two significant milestones in the National Reconciliation Journey:
- The successful 1967 Referendum; and
- The High Court Mabo decision.
Our First Nations Peoples continue to be impacted by past and current Government policies. Moreover, policies that contributed to the proportionately high rates of First Nations children in out of home care.
Anglicare Southern Queensland has been supporting foster and kinship carers for more than 30 years, including in the care of First Nations children. The journey to becoming a foster or kinship carer involves a lot of learning, speaking with and decision making from family and friends.
Here are three things that non-indigenous foster carers can do to support First Nations children appropriately and effectively, and help make Reconciliation a reality for them.
Non-Indigenous foster carers and the First Nations young people in their care need to engage with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Engagement can include the following activities:
- Attending First Nations Peoples’ community events (such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week events)
- Participating in First Nations community events (such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week events)
- Learning the original names of the local First Nations places.
Non-Indigenous foster carers need to understand Black Australian history
This includes an understanding of:
- The difference between ‘settlement’ and ‘invasion’;
- Terra Nullius (‘nobody’s land’) which was once a legal principle used to justify occupation of Australia by European settlers; as well as
- The land, known as ‘Australia,’ was inhabited by hundreds of culturally distinct Nations prior to the European invasion and, was therefore, not ‘discovered’ by Europeans.
Non-Indigenous foster carers need to build trust and rapport when engaging with First Nations peoples
This can be achieved by:
- Developing an appreciation of First Nations cultures
- Engaging with First Nations medical services
- Promoting Reconciliation through genuine engagement, participation and understanding.
Anglicare Southern Queensland acknowledges that First Nations Peoples need to be actively included in community events and initiatives. This allows for a culture of learning from each other to develop a real awareness, understanding, appreciation and respect for the cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Inclusion of First Nations Peoples of Australia is central to the Reconciliation journey, not their exclusion.
Kin Finder: one way of achieving Reconciliation for First Nations children in foster care
Anglicare Southern Queensland respects that the passing down of language and traditions is important for future generations. Furthermore, it helps young people in care to develop respect for their Elders and culture. It’s also important for supporting young people with building resilience.
Kin Finder is a program that we facilitate in Gympie and the Sunshine Coast. It helps identify the extended family of children (under 12 years of age) who are in residential care or other placements that are at risk of breakdown. This program has been influential in reconnecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with their extended family.
All First Nations People are Traditional Owners
Not all First Nations People know their Traditional Country.