WGAR News: National Children's Commissioner cites racism as factor in child removal: SNAICC

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Tue, 21/04/2015 - 10:13am

Newsletter date: 21 April 2015

- News Analysis

SNAICC: National Children's Commissioner cites racism as factor in child removal
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-articles.cfm?loadref=168&id=1235
1 Apr 15: "National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell has acknowledged that racism is an undeniable factor in child removal. Commenting on a number of aspects of the child protection system that must be addressed, Ms Mitchell said she believed racism was playing a part in the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. "We know that there's a level of racism in our community," Ms Mitchell said. "You've got a really high level of surveillance of Aboriginal communities. ... " ... "

- Analysis / Opinion

SMH: Racism 'a factor' in child removal
http://www.smh.com.au/national/racism-a-factor-in-child-removal-20150316...
16 Mar 16: "An alarming number of Indigenous children are being taken from their parents. ... Paddy Gibson, a senior researcher at Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), says the child protection system is, in effect, punishing Indigenous parents and families for their disadvantage. "The government response to the very real social issues and social trauma that [are] out there in Aboriginal communities is a punitive one," he says. "Child removal is being funded as a solution to the social problems." ... " Saffron Howden

- Upcoming Event

6th SNAICC National Conference - 15-17 September 2015, Perth
For Our Children - Community Voices: Sharing Knowledge & Practice
Hosted by The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
http://www.snaicc.org.au/conference/
" ... This will be the first SNAICC National conference held at Perth's Convention Centre, located on the northern bank of the Swan River in the land of the traditional owners the Noongar people. ...
The conference has become the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family issues conference in the southern hemisphere. It will feature local and international keynote speakers and over 70 concurrent sessions, yarning circles and workshops to choose from.
Delegates and speakers will gather from around the country and some from overseas to discuss our challenges and share our knowledge and experiences in raising happy, healthy and confident children in our communities.
As well as providing a powerful and inspiring learning experience for all attendees it will also provide opportunities to meet and experience some the richness and culture of our Aboriginal communities in the west. ... "

[Ed. note: Early Bird registration to the conference will open from 4 May 2015. To register and for all the latest updates visit the conference website at www.snaicc.org.au/conference ]

* Video

Olivia Nigro, YouTube: Stop Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities - Vanessa Culbong (GMAR WA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxaxvbXta58
https://www.facebook.com/stopstolengenerations
8 Apr 15: "Staunch Nyoongar and Yamatji activist, Vanessa Culbong, speaks about the fight against the forced closure of Aboriginal communities across Western Australia and the inevitable escalation of forced child removal as a result - 20 March, 2015."
""When you look at it from our perspective, it looks like nothing but genocide and a land grab by the government, when you look at the treatment of my Nyoongar and Yamatji families in Western Australia" - Vanessa Culbong speaks up strong about forced community closures and the escalating number of children being stolen from Aboriginal families!"

- Photos

Grandmothers Against Removals: GMAR Rally February 13 2015
http://stopstolengenerations.com.au/

- Facebook

Stop Stolen Generations
https://www.facebook.com/stopstolengenerations

- Extended Background Videos

SNAICC, YouTube: SNAICC Forum - "Stop the Creation of Another Stolen Generation!"
[Chair: Prof Kerry Arabena; Panel: Muriel Bamblett, Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Eva Jo Edwards, Megan Mitchell & Dr Helen Szoke]
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_uFLIw8L4
Part 2 - Q and A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1sxS-ET6mI
23/25 Sep 13: " ... SNAICC held a forum in Melbourne on 14 June at which Aboriginal leaders, national figures and an international expert on child rights discussed issues around the soaring number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. Attended by 240 people, the forum at Federation Square was chaired by Professor Kerry Arabena from the University of Melbourne, with the participation of: Professor Muriel Bamblett, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Stolen Generations advocate and founder of Marumali Eva Jo Edwards, Case Manager and Programs Officer, Connecting Home Megan Mitchell, National Children's Commissioner, and Dr Helen Szoke, Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia."

- Background

WGAR Background: Removal of Aboriginal children and the continuing Stolen Generation
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-removal-of-aborigina...
(last updated: 16 April 2015)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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