Social Work - Research Publications

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Seeking Safety: Aboriginal Child Protection Diversion Trials Evaluation Final Report

Wise, S ; Brewster, G (University of Melbourne, 2022-12-16)

Victorian Aboriginal children are currently 17 times more likely to be in out-of-home care compared to non-Aboriginal children. This is because Aboriginal children are more likely than non-Aboriginal children to be reported to Child Protection, and because Child Protection cases involving Aboriginal children are more likely to progress to Court and out of-home care after a decision has been made that a child needs protection. Aboriginal families and communities are disproportionally affected by traumatic experiences and their associated negative consequences, including unemployment, educational disadvantage, poverty, homelessness, and intergenerational trauma. This puts Aboriginal children at greater risk of adverse childhood experiences and for being reported to Child Protection. Visibility to mandatory reporters and implicit bias in the decisions of mandatory reporters may also contribute to differences in Child Protection reports. Aboriginal people also under utilise mainstream prevention and early intervention services, and avoid working with social service professionals, due to fear of child protection intervention or because mainstream services do not meet their cultural needs.