Peak body for Aboriginal organisations call for consultation in new out-of-home care rules

5 months ago

The national peak body for Aboriginal organisations has called for New South Wales to pause an overhaul of out-of-home care until First Nations people are involved in the decision-making. The billion-dollar shake-up follows a damning review into the system's failures as First Nations providers warn the state could be breaching its Closing the Gap commitments.

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00:00Jindara McGee is preparing necessities for some of the state's most vulnerable.

00:07Buying items in bulk means children that come into emergency care have access to essential items fast.

00:13For our community we really pride ourselves in being a really responsive service.

00:18But new rules mean care providers will need departmental sign-off to make bulk purchases of more than $10,000.

00:25It's a response to allegations a non-Indigenous provider misused funds.

00:30But Jindara worries the new red tape will cause needless delays.

00:34When we speak about emergency care we need that direct answer yes or no.

00:38Or we need that autonomy there to be able to make those decisions.

00:41It's just one of the changes in a $1.2 billion overhaul of the New South Wales out-of-home care sector.

00:48They're coming in with a big iron fist, like it's coercive control.

00:52And ultimately the collateral damage will be our children and young people.

00:56Last month it was revealed the new strategy going to Cabinet won't be co-designed with Aboriginal organisations.

01:03The Peak Body says without partnership the reforms will fail.

01:07Right now pause what you're doing, work with your community, work with your Peak Body

01:11and make sure you get this incredible commitment right.

01:14The Coalition of Peaks says the latest moves undermine the Closing the Gap Agreement

01:18and its fundamental principle of shared decision making.

01:21What we know is when reforms are rushed through without adequate consultation it never ends in good practice.

01:29The Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington says the contract variations are reasonable and straightforward.

01:36And they've partnered with Aboriginal stakeholders on multiple fronts as reforms progress.

01:42Big changes ahead for the kids in greatest need.

01:44Big changes ahead for the kids in greatest need.

01:48Big changes ahead for the kids in yet—

01:58Big pathways continue to go, and let them go, and minimize those goals that fruition.

02:00Big changes ahead for the kids ingate for you to go, and now what we expect for you to do.

02:06They're gonna be doing right.

02:08Now, so you might be able to achieve that Darwin scale, which is the thing, you know,

Peak body for Aboriginal organisations call for consultation in new out-of-home care rules

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