BLACK OCHRE TRAINING
FORMALLY KNOWN AS SPIRIT DREAMING TRAINING & EDUCATION SOLUTIONS
ABORIGINAL TRAINING
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Aboriginal Foster Carer & Kinship Carer Assessing
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
CHCCCS005 Conduct individual assessments
Aboriginal foster carer and kinship carer assessments are evaluations conducted within child protection systems to determine whether a carer is suitable to care for an Aboriginal child.
These assessments prioritise cultural knowledge, kinship obligations, and the child’s right to remain connected to their cultural identity, family, and community.
Unlike mainstream assessments, which may focus primarily on legal and safety criteria, Aboriginal cultural kinship assessments are culturally grounded and informed by the unique kinship systems, traditions, and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Purpose of Aboriginal Cultural Kinship Assessments:
1.Preserve Cultural Identity:
Ensure the child maintains connections to their family, culture, language, and Country.
2.Comply with the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle (ACPP):
Support the placement of Aboriginal children with extended family, community, or other Aboriginal carers in alignment with the principle’s priority order.
3.Recognise Kinship Responsibilities:
Reflect the Aboriginal understanding of kinship, which is broader than Western concepts of family and encompasses extended family, Elders, and community relationships.
4.Protect the Child’s Well-Being:
Ensure the potential carer can meet the child’s emotional, physical, and cultural needs in a safe and supportive environment.
Key Components of a Kinship Assessment:
Cultural Context:
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Consider the kinship structures specific to the child’s Nation or language group.
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Acknowledge the role of extended family, Elders, and other significant community members in child-rearing.
Cultural Connection:
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Assess the carer’s ability to maintain the child’s connection to their cultural heritage, including participation in cultural practices, language preservation, and understanding of the child’s spiritual connection to Country.
Community Involvement:
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Engage Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) or cultural consultants to provide guidance and input during the assessment process.
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Validate the carer’s ties to the community and ability to facilitate the child’s integration into cultural life.
Strength-Based Approach:
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Focus on the strengths of the kinship network rather than deficits.
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Recognise traditional caregiving practices and how they align with the child’s needs.
Practical Considerations:
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Evaluate the carer’s capacity to meet the child’s daily needs, provide stability, and address safety concerns.
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Ensure the carer has support from the extended family or community if needed.
Why Cultural Kinship Assessments Are Important:
Healing Intergenerational Trauma:
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Keeping Aboriginal children within their kinship networks helps counter the historical impacts of policies like the Stolen Generations, which separated children from their culture and identity.
Cultural Safety:
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A culturally appropriate environment supports the child’s sense of belonging and well-being.
Strengthens Kinship Systems:
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Reinforces the traditional role of extended family and community in raising children, ensuring they remain part of a culturally rich and supportive network.
Supports Better Outcomes:
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Research shows that children placed with kin, particularly within culturally aligned placements, experience better emotional, social, and identity-related outcomes.
Cost
$1500 + GST
Unit Requirements;
A combination of knowledge and simulated assessments, and case studies
14 hrs classroom study
22 hrs of self-paced learning