Aboriginal foster carers needed to help kids find forever homes
One in three children in state care are indigenous — but an Adelaide charity says it’s become “increasingly challenging” to meet demand for foster homes.
SA News
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An early call-out for more foster parents, particularly Aboriginal carers, has been made following this year’s record number of children in child protection – a third of them indigenous.
Centacare Foster Care says it’s been become “increasingly challenging” in recent months to respond to the “vast number” of requests for foster homes from the Department for Child Protection.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have the generous carers that we do, however the sector as a whole, needs more carers,” said Centacare Foster Care Manager Amalie Mannik.
Latest state government figures show 4040 children, removed from their families, were in the guardianship of the state in August. Of those children in care – 1,346 are indigenous despite representing four per cent of the SA’s total population.
There are currently 37 foster cares and 239 kinship carers who identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Ms Mannik said more Aboriginal foster carers were needed to ensure Aboriginal children were able to connect to culture and community – critical in forming their sense of self and identity.
Department for Child Protection chief executive Cathy Taylor said almost 63.4 per cent of Aboriginal children and youth (or 850) had been placed with carers who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander as of June 30.
“Reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system is a key focus for the Government,” said Ms Taylor.
She said this involved providing vulnerable children and families with the right support and early help at the right time and making sure Aboriginal children in care were placed with kin.
Adelaide foster carer Bindee, of Nauiyu and Kuku Yalanji heritage, said the number of indigenous children in care was “appalling”.
The veterinary nurse and her partner Karen became foster parents for the first time this year to two Aboriginal brothers aged under seven who were removed from their parents three years ago.
They are now learning Nauiyu and Kuku Yalanji language and culture, including playing the didgeridoo, and recently visited their foster grandmother in the Northern Territory.
“People need to be aware of the need for foster carers and step up and give children love, stability and the nurturing they need to reach their goals. Our boys have just begun saying – when I grow up I want to be a doctor or an astronaut – they can see a future now.”
More than 1570 children aged 18 and under are currently living with foster families and 1875 are in the care of a relative, friend or cultural community member. The remaining 595 are in state and commercial residential care – including motels.
Visit www.fostercare.sa.gov.au or call 1300 2367 837 for more information.