The Aboriginal staff in this program use their cultural expertise to provide secondary, and sometimes primary, consultation to DHHS Child Protection and CSO Care Teams.
They advocate for the development of Cultural Plans for Aboriginal children that are individualized to strengthen their cultural connections and focus on developing their cultural values, beliefs, practices and personal identity, and connections to Country, family, clan, Community, history, symbolism, cultural expression and events.
"Keep our kids connected to their culture so they grow to be strong in who they are and feel like they belong"
Program staff work to ensure that the Cultural Plan is co-designed with the child and includes information that the child is being supported to explore and have an emerging knowledge of their cultural connections, history and identity. Senior Advisors also provide secondary consultation support to Care Teams in the review of existing Cultural Plans. For children entering care a Cultural Plan must be submitted for endorsement within 16 weeks of allocation and acceptance by a DHHS Child Protection or CSO Care Team.
Note: An updated Senior Advisors contact list is currently being developed.
