Calls to increase allowances for Indigenous carers to keep children connected with culture
GuardianMar 05, 2023
South Australia's Aboriginal Children Commissioner April Lawrie has warned that "devastating rates" of First Nations children being removed from their families risk another Stolen Generation, despite the state government having vowed to tackle such family separation.
This comes as a preliminary report into the removal and placement of Indigenous children in South Australia, released on Wednesday, predicted that as many as 140 in every 1K Aboriginal children will be in state care by 2031 if current trends continue.
Too many Indigenous children are being removed from their families and culture nationwide — changes are urgently needed in this sector. Australia must empower Aboriginal-controlled organizations, offer allowances and support for First Nations people to step forward to care for their kids, and take into consideration that colonization and past mistreatment still affect these cases.
Race focus is exactly what has eroded Australia's foster system, even leading to Indigenous children being put back into dangerous situations under the veil of protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage. It would be absolutely disgraceful for the country not to revamp its approach regarding adoption. The safeguarding of children must come first.