The experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers in the child protection system

Much child welfare research does not differentiate between the needs of Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients and/or does not specifically address issues concerning Indigenous children, families and communities. As such, evidence is not informed by Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. The research reported upon in this paper was conducted jointly by a university-based researcher and Indigenous child protection agencies. It explored the support needs of Indigenous carers in the context of the increasingly detailed regulatory framework for out-of-home care. It suggests there should be more investment in ongoing support for carers and more personal contact between the statutory department and the carer/s after the placement is made. This would fulfill many purposes: support for carers with attendant benefits such as satisfaction and retention; better meeting the needs of the child; and the regulatory function of ongoing monitoring of placement quality for accountability purposes.