Inquiry on removal of Aboriginal children

May 31, 1995
Issue 

By Deepa Fernandes

Policies of child removal that the government used throughout this century to separate Aboriginal families are still happening today, according to the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care(SNAICC).

An inquiry launched last week will be looking at the past practices of governments concerning indigenous children. The inquiry was the initiative of SNAICC. While the inquiry will focus on what happened in the past, of major importance will be its findings on the current situation.

The terms of reference laid down by attorney general Michael Lavarch included examining current laws, practices and policies with respect to the placement and care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

SNAICC has expressed concern that what was past policy is still happening today. The methods by which removal occurs, however, are much more subtle, to the point where very few even know it is going on.

The Department of Family and Community Services has the role of removing any children from families it deems to fall below its standards of raising children. Brian Buttler, chairperson of SNAICC, says the department has placed its own standards upon Aboriginal people and decided that Aboriginal people haven't got the means to care properly for children.

Buttler says that Aboriginal children are removed more often when they have one non-Aboriginal parent. He says the social workers believe that an Aboriginal person with fair skin will have a better chance raised in a non-Aboriginal home where by they won't have to experience racism. This is frighteningly similar to the reasons given decades ago to justify the removal of Aboriginal children.

SNAICC argues that removing the children will not help their growth by shielding them from racism; rather it will deny them their Aboriginality.

The Family Court is playing a role in the removal of children too. SNAICC says that Aboriginal child-care agencies are not being consulted regularly, and when they are they are not winning in the majority of cases.

One of the most serious concerns that stems from the past removal of Aboriginal children is the loss of parenting skills for young Aboriginal mothers.

Another major concern for SNAICC is girls, aged 10-13, who are the victims of sexual abuse.

SNAICC is calling for national legislation to outlaw the removal of children. Currently the laws differ from state to state. While a law would lay the groundwork for what is acceptable, it would not prevent such people as the Department of Family and Community Services removing a child because they judge the child to be ill cared for.

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