Background

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP) aims to:

  • promote policy and practice that will reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection and out-of-home care systems; and
  • keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children connected to their family, community, culture and country (SNAICC 2017; Tilbury 2013).

At the core of the ATSCIPP are the 5 elements: Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection (SNAICC 2017) as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The 5 core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle

The diagram is an illustration of the 5 core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection), with a representative icon and a short description of each element.

Source: SNAICC (2017). Reproduced with permission.

This report brings together the latest state and territory data on 5 indicators that measure the application of the Placement and Connection elements of the ATSICPP. Indicators relating to the remaining 3 elements of the ATSICPP (Prevention, Partnership and Participation) are planned for reporting in future through data development.

The 5 elements of the ATSICPP are all equally important in the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle. In interpreting the data contained within this report, it is critical to understand the complex interdependencies between the 5 elements. For example, the placement of children in accordance with the established ATSICPP hierarchy is supported and enabled through the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in child protection decision-making; so that they are involved in the identification of culturally connected placements.

The Placement and Connection elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle

The Placement element of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP) sets a hierarchy of preferred placement options for carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. The placement hierarchy is designed to ensure the highest possible level of connection to family, community, culture and country is maintained for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child in out-of-home care.

The Connection element of the ATSICPP relates to support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care to maintain or re-establish connections to their family, community, culture and country.

Indicators under the Placement and Connection elements report on children’s out-of-home care placement in relation to the placement hierarchy and maintenance of connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and community.

References

DSS (Department of Social Services) (2018) Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 – Fourth Action Plan 2018–20, DSS, Australian Government, accessed 16 June 2020.

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (2017) Understanding and applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle: a resource for legislation, policy, and program development, SNAICC, accessed 16 June 2020.

Tilbury C (2013) The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle: aims and core elements, SNAICC, accessed 16 June 2020.