Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Indigenising indigenous child welfare
Other Titles:	Indigenous law bulletin
Authors:	Libesman, Terri
Keywords:	Indigenous issues;Child protection
Year:	2007
Publisher:	Indigenous Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales
Citation:	6 (24), December/January 2007
Notes:	General Overview: The author notes that the delivery of children’s services by Australian Government departments has not produced good outcomes for Indigenous children and families. She argues that responsibility and resources should be shifted from welfare departments to Indigenous communities. Discussion: Colonisation, and in particular the removal of Indigenous children from their families, has caused great damage to the culture, laws and traditions of Indigenous communities. This damage is the underlying cause of violence and child abuse experienced in some Indigenous families and communities. The current child protection system focuses on individual children in isolation from the broader community issues and has been unsuccessful in protecting Indigenous children. The author proposes that Indigenous law, culture, language and traditions should be fostered and strengthened. Community capacity needs to be built up so that Indigenous communities can take over responsibility for child protection. Current attempts to address Indigenous issues simply add culturally specific measures on to a framework that is not attuned to the needs of communities.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/15237
ISSN:	1328-5475
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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