'Frankly appalling' numbers of Aboriginal children in care
The Allan Labor Government is facing fresh scrutiny for its failure to address the alarming number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, with its own department describing the crisis as "frankly appalling".
Following the department's appearance at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Melina Bath, said: "Today's candid admission from a senior public servant highlights a crisis that is continuing to worsen''.
"The Allan Labor Government talks about its commitment to closing the gap, but the facts speak for themselves. Aboriginal children remain 20 times more likely to be removed from their families. That's not progress, it's a sign the government is failing those who need support the most," Ms Bath said.
"The Allan Labor Government can't manage the child protection system and vulnerable Victorians are paying the price."
Shadow Minister for Child Protection, Roma Britnell, said the ongoing rise in the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care is a heartbreaking reflection of a system in crisis.
"The Allan Labor Government has had a decade to address this growing crisis, yet the number of Aboriginal children in care continues to rise. These admissions are deeply troubling and make it clear the government still has no real plan to fix this," Ms Britnell said.
Speaking at the committee hearing, Terry Garwood, Deputy Secretary First Peoples - State Relations, painted a bleak picture of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
Mr Garwood said of the numbers relating to out-of-home care: "They're frankly appalling and we need to come to grips with it".
Mr Garwood added his department "remain concerned" about the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
The Commission for Children and Young People's 2023-24 Annual Report highlights that Aboriginal children in Victoria are significantly over-represented in the out-of-home care system.
Although Aboriginal people make up just one per cent of Victoria's population, they account for almost a third (31 per cent) of all children in care.
