Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services

our mob andcare and protection services

What is Care andProtection Services?

Care and Protection Services is part of the CommunityServices Directorate, in the Office for Children, Youth andFamily Support.

The Children and Young People Act 2008 requires Care andProtection Services to look into reports where more informationis needed about a child who might be in an unsafe environmentor has been harmed as a result of abuse or neglect. Care andProtection Services will decide which reports to follow up.

We used to know Care andProtection Services as ‘FamilyServices’ or ‘Welfare’.

How does it work?

When a report is made:

  • Care and Protection Services receive a report aboutconcerns for the safety of a child. The name of the personmaking the report and the information received areconfidential.
  • An assessment (also called an appraisal) may be madeabout whether the child is considered to be in an unsafeenvironment or whether the family may need some help.

What might happen next?

  • There may be no further action.
  • Care and Protection Services may help you get in contactwith organisations that may be of help to you.
  • Care and Protection Services might contact you to talkabout any problems you may be having and how you canget help if you need to.
  • More assessments (appraisals) might be done.

The appraisal process

If Care and Protection Services think your child is in anunsafe environment, they will need to get more informationand do more assessments (appraisals). This is called theappraisal process.

What will happen next?

  • Care and Protection Services will visit you at home(a worker from Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderServices may visit with them).
  • They will sometimes visit without making an appointment.
  • They will speak with your child either before they visit you
  • or while they are at your home.
  • Sometimes the police may visit as well. This may happenwhen it is believed a criminal offence has been committed.The police who attend could be in uniform. They could bepolice who specialise in offences against children.

When an appraisalis completed

What might happen next?

  • There may be no further action.
  • Care and Protection Services could put you in contactwith other organisations that could be of some help to youand your family.
  • Care and Protection Services may arrange for a familymeeting with all significant people involved with you andyour child.
  • Child and family care plans are developed. Care andProtection Services and if you want, Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Services, will support you to put thingsin place that might help you and your family. Care andProtection Services may continue to be involved with yourchild and your family.
  • If Care and Protection Services remain involved, therewill be ongoing reviews of your child and your family’ssituation.

You will be involvedin this process.

What happens if someone else needsto care for my child?

Sometimes achild cannot bekept safe at homeand will need tobe cared for bysomeone else.

This can happen in three ways:

  • Emergency action can be taken to immediately protectyour child. This means your child would be immediatelyplaced with family or another suitable person. This matterwill be taken to court a day or so after it happens.
  • A Voluntary Care Agreement: This is a legal documentthat you (parent) sign. With a Voluntary Care Agreement,Care and Protection Services and your family work outwho is the most suitable person to care for your child. It isvoluntary only and can be cancelled by you at anytime.
  • The Children’s Court: The Court decides where a child willlive or gives the Director-General, Community ServicesDirectorate the authority to decide. Your child is givenlegal representation. You are also able to apply for legalrepresentation to get your views across. You might needto talk to Legal Aid or South East Aboriginal Legal Service(SEALS). You must be told when Court is on and you mustreceive a copy of the papers provided to the Court.

If your child is to be cared for by someone else

  • Care and Protection Services must follow the Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander Children and Young PeoplePrinciple (known as the Indigenous Placement Principle).This is a guiding principle for decisions about a placementfor an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child or youngperson. The priorities for placement of an Aboriginalor Torres Strait Islander child or young person must befollowed. This means that your child might be placed witha suitable family member, another suitable Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander community member or some othersuitable person.
  • Care and Protection Services must also develop anAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Plan for yourchild. This plan ensures that the identity of the child oryoung person as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanderperson is preserved and enhanced. Care and ProtectionServices, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services’Family Support program and your family should developthe plan.
  • In most cases you will be able to see your childregularly unless it is unsafe for them to do so.
  • There will be ongoing reviews and meetings. Parentsand family should be invited to these meetings.
  • All decisions made by Care and Protection Servicesmust be made in your child’s best interest. Your child’sviews and wishes must also be considered.
  • When it is time for your child to return home, Care andProtection Services will make sure this happens in away that is best for your child and your family.

What records will be kept?

The Territory Records Act 2002 requires Care andProtection Services workers to keep records of the workthey do. You have a right to access information kept aboutyourself and your children. The Directorate provides thisthrough the Freedom of Information Act 1989. The Childrenand Young People Act 2008 prevents the release of certaininformation. If you would like access to your informationor would like more information about the process andyour rights to information, please contact the Legal andAccountability Officer on (02) 6205 0274.

You havea right toaccessinformationkept aboutyourselfand yourchildren.

You have theright to havean advocateor a supportperson act onyour behalf.

Feedback

If you have any feedback (good or bad) about the serviceyou receive you can do it in these ways:

  • If you want more information about Care and ProtectionServices’ involvement with your family, you can speak withthe caseworker or the team leader.
  • If you feel your concerns have not been addressed,you can speak with the operations manager.
  • If you are still not satisfied you can speak with theExecutive Officer, Care and Protection Services on6207 1069.
  • If you need to take your concerns further, you can speakto Consumer Advocacy and Quality Service on 6207 4434.This service is part of the Community Services Directorate.If you wish to make a complaint outside the Directorate,you may contact the Ombudsman’s Office on 1300 362 072,the Public Advocate on (02) 6207 0707 or theACT Human Rights Office on (02) 6205 2222.

Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Services programs

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family SupportProgram: this program is part of Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Services, Office for Children, Youth and Family Support.

The program provides support to children and families who havebeen referred to the program, assists with appraisals, home visitsand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural plans.

The program provides support and advice to other departmentalstaff who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.It also delivers family support services to vulnerable childrenand their families in Jervis Bay, including the Wreck Bay

Aboriginal Community.

There are also other family support programs in the ACTthat you are able to access.

Integrated Service Delivery for Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander People: this program is a jointpartnership between CSD, the Health Directorate and theEducation and Training Directorate. The program will offerassistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families withissues such as health, education, unemployment, domesticviolence, and living and parenting skills.

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families oftenrequires a holistic approach to ensure that their needs havebeen identified and supported. The program seeks to establishsustainable partnerships with the local community, governmentand non-government organisations to provide culturallyappropriate support services to vulnerable Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander families in the ACT.

The program works with participating familiesand other agencies to:

  • Wrap services around families
  • Identifies the needs of all family members
  • Encourages the involvement of the family,extended family and community supportswith decisions that impact on the family
  • Puts the family in touch with relevantservices to respond to their needs
  • Builds on existing family and individualstrengths and supports.

Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Kinshipand Foster Care Service:this service is part ofAboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Services, Officefor Children, Youth andFamily Support.

The service organises andsupports placements forAboriginal and Torres StraitIslander children needingout of home care in line withthe Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Children andYoung People Principle.This service also recruits,trains and supports carersinvolved in the service.

Narrabundah House Indigenous AccommodationService: this service is part of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Services, Office for Children, Youth andFamily Support.

The service provides a residential supported accommodationservice for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men(12 years to 18 years of age).

The service works in partnership with other Indigenouscommunities and related government and non-governmentagencies to provide culturally appropriate services forresidents.

Other programs

Family Engagement Unit: is within the Office for Children,Youth and Family Support.

This service can help bring families together with theircaseworker, other relevant people and organisationsinvolved with your family to make decisions about keepingyour child safe.

These meetings can be arranged throughout the timeCare and Protection Services is involved with your family.

Some useful numbers

Aboriginal Legal Service02 6249 8488

Billabong Aboriginal Corporation02 6278 4799

‘Gatherings in the Park’ Barnardos02 6228 9577

Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation02 6296 8900

Koori Preschool/Early Childhood Education02 6205 9296

Narrabundah House Indigenous Accommodation Service02 6205 5398

South Eastern Aboriginal Legal Service (SEALS)02 6249 8488

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service02 6284 6222

ACT Ombudsman1300 362 072

ACT Human Rights Office02 6205 2222

Children and Young People Commissioner02 6205 2222

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 24hrs02 6247 2525

Public Advocate of the ACT02 6207 0707

Care and Protection Services1300 556 729

Barnardos02 6241 5466

Carers ACT1800 242 636

Domestic Violence Crisis Service02 6280 0900

Child and Family CentresGungahlin02 6207 0120

Tuggeranong02 6207 8228

West Belconnen02 6205 2904

Lifeline131 114

Legal Aid Helpline1300 654 314

Legal Aid Office02 6243 3411

ACT Foster Care Association02 6288 5994

CREATE Foundation (for children in care)02 6253 1451

Office for Children, Youthand Family Support

Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Services

02 6205 4798

11 Moore Street

Canberra ACT 2601

(GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601)