Stories of hope for Aboriginal children, families and culture: Narrative responses to a national crisis — Compiled by Aunty Barbara Wingard and Dulwich Centre Foundation

Description

This resource includes stories of hope in response to a national crisis. We are sharing here stories from families who, despite suffering for their kids, have managed to get them back; stories from foster parents who are fostering not only children but also relationships and pride; stories from child protection workers whose honesty is creating trust in the shadow of the stolen generations and who are prioritising the safety of children through focusing on solutions and partnerships.

Across Australia, Aboriginal families and communities are facing a crisis. The statistics for how many Aboriginal kids are being removed from their families are shocking. For some, when you were taken away from your family as a child and then you have your own kids taken away, this is terribly sad and horribly unfair. In the face of this crisis, our communities are responding and taking action in many different ways. Grandmothers Against Removals are taking to the streets. Aboriginal organisations are running national campaigns. Aboriginal foster and kinship carers are doing all they can to care for children. And across the country, Aboriginal families who have had their children removed are doing all they can to reunite with them.

This resource includes stories of hope in response to this national crisis. We are sharing here stories from families who, despite suffering for their kids, have managed to get them back; stories from foster parents who are fostering not only children but also relationships and pride; stories from child protection workers whose honesty is creating trust in the shadow of the stolen generations and who are prioritising the safety of children through focusing on solutions and partnerships.

This resource also contains a program ‘Solid families: Strong in heart and spirit’. To our knowledge this is the first parenting support program based on Aboriginal values, initiated by Aboriginal mothers in Roebourne, and developed through a cross-cultural partnership. It uses the Tree of Life narrative approach as its starting point. This publication ends with the moving words of Aboriginal dads who are trying to create good memories for their kids. This resource is a small step in responding to the crisis Aboriginal families and communities are facing. We all have to do something to respond. Our children need us.