Wednesday, 28 August 2024

Ministers statements: Aboriginal Children’s Forum

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:34): I rise to update the house on the recent Aboriginal Children’s Forum and to acknowledge the much-deserved recognition of a long-time advocate for Aboriginal voice and self-determination. Earlier this month I met with the Aboriginal Children’s Forum, which had been hosted by the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative on the lands of the Wathaurong people. I was able to update the forum on the implementation of the statement of recognition, which came into effect on 1 July this year. The statement of recognition does many things. It ensures that the Aboriginal child placement principle is applied to all decision-making regarding Aboriginal children. It broadens the authorisations for Aboriginal agencies under the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care program. Through these amendments to the act, we now have more opportunity to reduce the number of Aboriginal children entering care by providing an Aboriginal response to child protection reports delivered by Aboriginal agencies.

I was also able to announce the recipients for the latest round of the Aboriginal children and families innovation and learning grants program. In this seventh round of the program the Allan Labor government has invested $2.3 million in Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver culturally safe services and to develop new and improved service models to better meet the needs of Aboriginal children and families. The program builds on the largest ever single investment from the 2023–24 budget to continue to expand the Aboriginal-led service system – $140 million over four years.

Aunty Muriel Bamblett is one of the co-chairs of the Aboriginal Children’s Forum with Jason Kanoa, the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Aunty Muriel Bamblett, who was awarded Person of the Year at this year’s NAIDOC awards. This award is due recognition for Aunty Muriel’s long-time advocacy for Aboriginal children and families, work which over the years has had a positive impact on so many Aboriginal children and families right across Victoria and in fact nationally. Aunty Muriel has spent decades fighting for recognition of the importance and value of family, kinship networks, culture and community in raising Aboriginal children. Under her leadership since 1999 the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency has grown significantly, with the organisation now employing over 1000 people and delivering over 80 programs. I could not think of a more fitting recipient for this award.