Major ‘regression’ in Closing the Gap, Rishworth warns

The country’s social services ministers are joining forces in Adelaide to reform the system after a string of Indigenous child deaths.

A spate of tragic Indigenous child deaths in South Australia and the Northern Territory has prompted an urgent call to arms for the country’s social services ministers.

Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth will convene a meeting with all state and territory counterparts in Adelaide on Friday, sparking debate about crucial reforms needed to improve the safety of disadvantaged children and families.

The Community Services Ministers Meeting will focus on protecting First Nations communities after the deaths of Indigenous children Makai Wanganeen, 7, and Charlie Nowland, 6, in Adelaide.

Both children were known to child protection agencies and died in separate cases of suspected neglect.

Ministers will also respond to a horrific murder-suicide case north of Alice Springs, where 30-year-old woman A.K. and her infant child were killed by her partner last month.

The three high profile cases have prompted intense scrutiny on child protection and domestic violence policies in both SA and the Northern Territory.

Police are investigating the death of seven-year-old Craigmore boy, Makai Wanganeen, who may have died from criminal neglect.

Six-year-old Charlie died in a separate case of suspected neglect.

It’s understood one of Ms Rishworth’s priorities will be addressing a major regression in the 12th target of the Closing the Gap national agreement. Last month it was revealed First Nations children were more likely to be taken into out-of-home care than they were in 2019.

“I’m committed to acting on family and domestic violence and making sure … we can implement measures that help women and children escaping violence,” Ms Rishworth said.

“One woman dies every ten days in Australia at the hands of her former or current partner and that is just unacceptable.”SS

Friday’s meeting will be the first gathering of social and community services ministers since the Labor government took office. It follows a similar summit of the nation’s ministers responsible for women’s safety last month, also in Adelaide.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth held a similar meeting with ministers responsible for women’s safety in Adelaide last month.

On Friday, Ms Rishworth will also unveil the completed $3.9m rebuild of a domestic violence safe house run by the Salvation Army in Adelaide’s south.

The first rebuild of its kind around Australia boosted the shelter’s capacity from 18 to 40 – many of them Indigenous mothers with several children.

The new design includes specific cultural considerations for First Nations women, who are 34 times more likely to suffer domestic violence than non-Indigenous women.

If you are experiencing family violence you can contact 1800 RESPECT.

[e-mail]