Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families to Stay Together from the Start (SAFeST Start): Urgent call to action to address crisis in infant removals

• DOI: 10.1002/ajs4.200
• Publication Date: 2022-01-27T02:23:48Z
• Authors: Catherine Chamber...; Paul Gray; Debra Bennet; Alison Elliott; Marika Jackomos; Jacynta Krakouer; Rhonda Marriott; Birri O'Dea; Julie Andrews; Shawana Andrews; Caroline Atkinson; Judy Atkinson; Alex Bhathal; Gina Bundle; Shanamae Davies; Helen Herrman; Sue‐Anne Hunter; Glenda Jones‐Terare; Cathy Leane; Sarah Mares; Jennifer McConachy; Fiona Mensah; Catherine Mills; Janine Mohammed; Lumbini Hetti Mud...; Melissa O'Donnell; Elizabeth Orr; Naomi Priest; Yvette Roe; Kristen Smith; Catherine Waldby; Helen Milroy; Marcia Langton
• Keywords: Call to action; Start up

Reducing the rate of over-representation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care (OOHC) is a key Closing Gap target committed to by all Australian governments. Current strategies are failing. The "gap" widening, with OOHC at 30 June 2020 being 11 times that non-Indigenous children. Approximately, one five entering each year younger than year. These figures represent compounding intergenerational trauma institutional harm families communities. This article outlines systemic failures address needs parents during pregnancy following birth, causing cumulative families, communities cultures. Major reform child family notification service systems, significant investment this crisis, urgently needed. Family Matters Building Blocks elements Child Placement Principle (Prevention, Participation, Partnership, Connection) provide transformative foundation historical, institutional, well-being socioeconomic drivers current catastrophic trajectories. time for action now.