Labor is calling for urgent action to curb the rapidly rising numbers of First Nations children coming into state care and youth detention in South Australia.
The latest Report on Government Services (ROGS) reveals a litany of shocking statistics for South Australia.
Just 5% of SA kids are Aboriginal, yet shockingly now 34% of children in care are Aboriginal
On average each day 61% of children in detention in SA are Aboriginal
The proportion of Aboriginal children in care who are looked after by Aboriginal carers has again dropped under the Marshall Liberal government to a mere 62%. In 2009 it was 76%.
Aboriginal children are now seven times more likely to come into care than non-Aboriginal children – the largest gap in five years.
A report tabled in Parliament today by the Guardian for Children and Young People says the ROGS figures highlight a ‘worsening proportion’ of Aboriginal children being drawn into the child protection system compared to non-Aboriginal children.
Quotes attributed to the Shadow Minister for Child Protection Jayne Stinson
The number of First Nations children in care and detention is a source of horrible shame for our state.
We are seeing the gap widen between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Aboriginal children are now seven times more likely to come into care than non-Aboriginal children – the largest gap in five years.
We can’t expect to see a drop in the number of Aboriginal children ending up in detention if we aren’t supporting their connection to culture, especially at crisis points in their lives.
It’s simply not good enough that increasingly Aboriginal children in care are not being placed with Aboriginal kin in South Australia. That means each of those children who miss out are not getting the connection to their culture that they need and deserve.
Rachel Sanderson needs to put much more effort into tackling the reasons First Nations children are flooding into care at an increasing rate under her ministry. Rachel Sanderson needs to recruit many more Aboriginal foster and kinship carers to ensure brighter futures for vulnerable Aboriginal children.
——————————
Guardian’s Report: http://www.gcyp.sa.gov.au/latest-posts/