Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Helping maintain connection is individual to the child or young person, but may include:

• Prioritising activities and relationships that keep them connected to their Aboriginal identity
• Understanding your responsibilities under the child or young person’s cultural plan, their rights as Aboriginal children and young people in foster care, and their family’s rights in decision making
• Being aware of significant cultural events, cultural needs, and attending ongoing training, reading, and learning.

You are not expected to be an expert in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture, but you do need to explore and promote the child or young person’s culture. You are not required to do this alone, and will be supported by your ACCO. All carers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children undertake cultural awareness training.

A culturally safe environment is one that will enable and encourage an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child or young person to identify with, and be proud of their culture, because their carer’s family recognises and values their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity.

Caring for an Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander child or young person is an opportunity for you to gain more information and skills, so they will thrive. Both of you can share a journey of learning and understanding more about culture and communities. This is an ideal way of making the child or young person and your family feel comfortable and respectful of each other, and get the placement off to a good start.

Prospective foster carers can choose any agency within their local government area, this can be a Community Service Organisation or an ACCO. If you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, you are not required to foster children from your community. However, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander foster carers have specific knowledge and unique understanding of culture that can benefit children and young people in their care.

ACCOs are Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations who deliver a range of holistic services to their community, in a way that values and promotes Aboriginal culture. ACCOs work alongside families, focusing on forming trusting and respectful relationships, building on carers strengths and supporting children to grow and thrive in their culture.

ACCO staff listen to families and involve them in decisions that affect their lives, with conversations done in a loving way, like family would. When working with an ACCO, carers receive support from Aboriginal staff to keep their children’s connection to Country, culture and Community strong for the duration of their court order and beyond.

A cultural plan an additional plan written when an Aboriginal child or young person is placed in foster care. The plan is a comprehensive record of the child and young person’s Aboriginal cultural information, cultural journey, and sets out the intentions for the period covered aligned with case plan, to maintain and develop the child and young person’s Aboriginal identity; and encourage connection to their Aboriginal community and culture.