Indigenous children and young people
Indigenous children and young people are one of the most disadvantaged groups in Victoria, experiencing more ill health, and poorer wellbeing and educational outcomes than non-Indigenous children and young people. Advocating to improve these outcomes is a top VCOSS priority.
As part of the 2004-05 legislative Review of the Children and Young Person’s Act 1989, VCOSS worked with other organisations, including the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) to ensure that all steps within the Review had Indigenous issues front and centre. VCOSS continues this focus in the ongoing implementation of the new Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
A key step in reducing Indigenous disadvantage is to ensure that policy and program responses are based on a healing framework, and that improved linkages across universal and specialist services are developed. Currently, Aboriginal child and family services are still primarily focused on tertiary - or crisis - services.
To turn this around and improve supports for Indigenous children, young people and families, the following actions are required:
- Increasing the capacity of Aboriginal-controlled organisations
- Ensuring mainstream (generalist) organisations provide culturally appropriate services
- Increasing the availability of Aboriginal-specific early intervention family support services delivered through both Aboriginal-controlled and generalist (mainstream) organisations
VCOSS actively works to bring about these improvements. Between 2004 and 2006, VCOSS participated in the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Vulnerable Children, Young People and Families. In 2006, VCOSS was a member of the Indigenous Issues Working Group which produced a report outlining key steps required to better support and promote the wellbeing of Indigenous children, young people and families in Victoria.
VCOSS was a member of the Indigenous Issues Working Group which produced a report outlining key steps required to better support and promote the wellbeing of Indigenous children, young people and families in Victoria.