Justice and Equity Centre (formerly the Public Interest Advocacy Centre)’s Post

We are so proud to release our 2023–2024 Annual Reports today. These publications report on our progress over the last year to achieving our vision where every Queensland child is loved, respected, and has their rights upheld. For the second year, we have captured our standout achievements from the Annual Report in our engaging, standalone Highlights Report. It details the impact of our work and how it has influenced systemic change in Queensland. Through Parliamentary submissions, system reviews, research projects, community engagement, our strengthened partnerships, and our communications activities, we are proud of what we have achieved in 2023–2024 to deliver better outcomes for Queensland children and families. We are legislated to assess the performance of Queensland’s child protection system and report our findings in our Annual Report. For the first time, we have published this assessment as a standalone report, and we are pleased to share it as part of this year’s annual report release. This report provides insights about the performance of the child protection system in comparison with other Australian jurisdictions, and it also reports on Queensland’s progress towards reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system. We will be sharing insights from this report over the coming weeks. This has been a huge year for us, and we invite you to read about all that we have achieved at: https://lnkd.in/gQ_3HX6r #QFCC

I was delighted this article was shared as it was a chance to share the important elements of the #ChildTrustFundAccess campaign and the legal hurdles young people with vulnerabilities face with fellow private client lawyers and professionals. There is more to read about the campaign on our website: https://lnkd.in/esvqPRHm

STATEMENT: Yesterday was National #SorryDay, where we mourn the forcible government removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities, known as the Stolen Generations. This violent removal was done in the name of child and youth protection. In Victoria, punitive child protection and youth justice interventions continue at high rates against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. As #ReconciliationWeek starts today, the work of apology, truth and reconciliation is clearly not behind us. We urge government to commit to and invest in Aboriginal self-determination and solutions identified by community. Follow and support the work of Aboriginal-led organisations Koorie Youth Council (KYC), DjirraVIC, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, VACCA - Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Change the Record. Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/gt62-xiB #NationalReconciliationWeek #NowMoreThanEver #NationalSorryDay

Yesterday’s release of the Family Matters report by SNAICC - National Voice for our Children once again shows that the child protection system continues to fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, exposing them to ongoing harm and trauma.   There are 22,908 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, which represents 41% of all children in out-of-home care, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up only 6% of the total child population in Australia.   WA stats 👉 WA performed either poorly or very poorly in the Family Matters Report Card which compares the states and territories 👉WA was the worst in the nation for overrepresentation of children in out of home care and third-party parental responsibility orders. 👉In the 2023-2024 financial year in WA there were 5326 children in care, almost 60% (3178) of these children and young people are Aboriginal.   We must do better and invest in early intervention and support services for WA children and families.

Youth justice and child protection systems are failing children and young people. We are not learning the lessons that we should have learned from over 60 reports and inquiries into those systems, and over 3000 recommendations. A new report by Australian Institute of Family Studies [https://lnkd.in/gS9z-JZF] identifies the issues which keep emerging from inquiries from 2010-2022. Australia isn't taking enough action on what we know needs to be fixed. We tend to focus on law and order rather than prevention. Only 19% of the 3000 recommendation focused on early intervention and prevention. Six key problems keep emerging: 1. inadequate levels of investment 2. lack of information sharing 3. limited workforce capacity 4. lack of oversight, monitoring and reporting 5. limited opportunities for children to be heard 6. limited self-determination for First Nations children and families Let's focus on implementing recommendations, allocating responsibilities, and setting time frames, rather than conducting more enquiries. Let's turn our energies onto the safety and wellbeing of children. Listen this ABC Radio National podcast by Isabel Moussalli with one of the AIFS authors and others working to support children: - Dr Emily Stevens (Australian Institute of Family Studies) - Siyavash Doostkhah (Youth Affairs Network QLD) - Prof Daryl Higgins (Australian Catholic University) - Anne Hollonds (National Children's Commissioner) https://lnkd.in/gXMuRse5 via @ABCaustralia

AbSec's Stand: Ensuring the Rights of Aboriginal Children Today, we responded to the Audit Office's alarming report on the systemic failures in safeguarding Aboriginal children within the child protection system. Our CEO, John Leha, underscores the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how we protect and support our children and families. The report highlights deeply rooted issues, from racial bias to inadequate family support. It’s clear that we must act now to transform the system and uphold the rights and dignity of Aboriginal communities. At AbSec, we are committed to driving change and advocating for the implementation of all recommendations from both the Audit Office and the Family Is Culture Review. We call for a child protection system that prioritises early support, keeps families together, and respects the right to self-determination. Let’s work together to build a future where every Aboriginal child and young person can grow up in a safe and loving family environment. Join us in this crucial journey towards equity and justice. #AbSec #ChildProtection #AboriginalRights #FamilySupport #SystemicChange #SocialJustice #AuditOfficeReport

"A second child has died in youth detention in less than a year. This devastating death of a child in the care of the state reminds us of all the other children who are suffering every day due to the failure of Australian governments to honor our promise to protect the human rights of our children," said National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds. "Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 but has failed to embed its principles into domestic law." “Thousands of children each year are failed by inadequate support from health, education, and social service systems, resulting in the child protection and youth justice systems being chronically overwhelmed. The basic needs of Australia’s most vulnerable children – such as housing, sufficient food, education, and health care – are not being met." “In a rich and developed country, these are preventable problems of our own making. These children are falling through the gaps created by our neglect and the government’s failure to act on decades of evidence." Ms. Hollonds could not have said it better. We need #reform, and we need it #now for the sake of a #better #future for all children. This #NationalChildProtectionWeek, Every Conversation Matters. Let’s take #action, #advocate for #childrenincare, and ensure no child falls through the cracks in our communities. #Everyconversationmatters #Nationalchildprotectionweek2024 #Planandgrow

Also we need to look at restoring those who have already been removed. Agencies that deliver Out of Home Care services need to find a better balance. We need to see organisations better manage both the acute risks faced by young people and their families, and also the long term risks associated with the loss of connection, culture and identity. Whilst we are seeing a shift in who delivers these services, there is still the need to redesign systems, practices and attitudes. It is now time for organisations and agencies to listen, learn and lead with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. #familyisculture #strongertogether

Some food for thought for the incoming NT Government. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s new report on child justice has been released and calls for transformational change to put child wellbeing first and address the root causes of why these kids find themselves in trouble in the first place. The evidence tells us that prevention - not punishment – is the key to keeping our kids and the community safe. What we need is a nationally coordinated, child rights-based approach to reform. This is the key to safer communities for us all. You can read the full report and its recommendations ‘Help way earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing: https://lnkd.in/gCxzEWgE DDHS CEO Rob McPhee was one of a number of experts to urge the incoming NT Government to work with Aboriginal organisations to address the issues behind why our kids end up before the courts. You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/gffEszRS #AusHumanRights #NTGovernment #northernterritory