An inquiry is set to be launched into the removal of Aboriginal children into state-based care in South Australia.
The probe will be overseen by the state's first Aboriginal Children's Commissioner, Kokatha and Mirning woman April Lawrie.
Ms Lawrie was granted the powers of a Royal Commission in September to motion investigations into systemic issues affecting Indigenous youth.
The investigation will focus on non-compliance to the Aboriginal child placement principle, which requires state services to ensure Aboriginal children are placed in the care of their family or cultural group after being removed.
“We have issues around non-compliance… It means that we have siblings that are not living in the same family, growing up without the fundamental human right of knowing their family and their cultural identity," she told NITV News.
The rate of First Nations children in out-of-home care in South Australia has grown by 7.7 per cent since June 2020.
Indigenous youth now account for 37 per cent of the 4,457 minors on Care and Protection Orders for Guardianship, according to the latest report by the state’s Guardian for Children and Young People.
“A third of those kids are in care with non-Aboriginal people,” Ms Laurie said.
“We hear, all the time, from family members that are affected by these decisions that they’re often last to know what’s going on with their children.”
“They talk with great concern about the repeat of the Stolen Generation practices, and that authorities make decisions without engaging the family.”
Ms Lawrie said she is alarmed by the growing rate of Aboriginal children in state custody since the Royal Commission into SA’s child protection systems delivered its report in 2016.
“It should have actually yielded a transformational change in our system that would not only guard and protect our children.”
“We know from international research and evidence that families have great intelligence to provide about in decisions about keeping their children safe and connected.”
The Aboriginal Family Support Services is the only community-controlled organisation gazetted in the state.
Ms Lawrie said more efforts are needed to build the capacity of local Aboriginal-led services to be the primary source of assistance for families.
“We know that’ll yield much greater results for our children and young people in Aboriginal communities," she said.
The inquiry is expected to commence early next year.
