Indigenous Queenslanders rally to care for abused kids

Indigenous Queensland families are being urged to embrace NAIDOC week and respond to a statewide call to take abused and neglected Indigenous children into their hearts and homes.

More than 150 Indigenous potential carers have responded to the Bligh Government’s campaign asking Queenslanders to become foster and kinship carers. In total, more than 3,000 people have contacted the department since the campaign started on May 11.

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said the response was encouraging, but she urged other Indigenous families to use NAIDOC week to consider their ability to help.

“Child Safety Officers place our Indigenous children into care to protect them at about six times the rate of their non-Indigenous counterparts,” she said.

“It is important when we do this these children and young people can maintain links with their culture.

Mrs Keech said the recruitment campaign had targeted Indigenous families with advertising tailored to Indigenous Queenslanders and published and broadcast in Indigenous media outlets.

“We need individuals, couples and families. Even if you can spare just the occasional weekend to offer support to full-time carers when they need a break to deal with personal matters or recover from illness, then we want you to give us a call,” she said.

“Carers can come from all walks of life, be young or old, and live in the city or the bush.

“However they all have one thing in common – a steadfast commitment to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.”

The Bligh Government has committed more than $15 million over five years to recruit, train and increase support for carers. The money will go towards streamlining the approval process, reducing red tape and improving support networks and services for carers.

There are currently about 3,300 foster and kinship carers in Queensland and the campaign aims to recruit an additional 500 carers across the state.

The funds to seek more carers are just a small part of the government’s investment in finding safe places to live for abused and neglected Indigenous children.

The Bligh Government is improving services and last month’s State Budget included $7 million for running costs and $7.6 million in capital funding over four years to build and run safe houses staffed by community workers in four remote far northern communities.

The safe houses will accommodate four to six children, with live-in local workers who will provide intensive support and practical advice to families as well as caring for children.

Work is underway already to establish safe houses in Doomadgee, Yarrabah, Palm Island and the Cape York communities of Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Aurukun and Weipa/Napranum. The next four will be in eastern Cape York Peninsula, the Torres Strait, northern Cape York Peninsula and Mornington Island.

Mrs Keech said the safe houses would mean children and young people would not have to be taken up to several hundred kilometres away from home to major cities like Cairns for their safety.

The Bligh Government will also invest more than $16 million in 2008-09 for specialist Indigenous non-government organisations, known as “recognised entities” to provide services for Indigenous children and young people in care.

For more information on becoming a foster or kinship carer call 1300 550 877 or visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.

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Media Contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236