Aboriginal Guardianship Support Model Project Background
Designing an effective support systems that address the needs of Aboriginal children, families, and communities.
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Conversations with guardians about guardianship support
As part of a current review of the Aboriginal Guardianship Support Model, AbSec sought feedback from guardians about their experiences. This information guides the development of new supports for guardians and carers of Aboriginal children and young people.
AbSec held interviews with guardians to gather their insights and advice on services and supports for Aboriginal children with guardianship orders and their families. Some quotes from these families include:
"Why do we not get regular information provided, aren’t we the ones that this impacts on and are in turn managing the impact on the ones we support?"
"To have an Aboriginal mentor teach life skills and about their culture – it would be a good thing."
"I had a good caseworker, who would stay for a couple of hours when she visited and on occasions would stay for dinner."
"We are so busy just living our lives and supporting our extended families we don’t have time to find out what has changed for us in out-of-home care."
"I would do anything for the children."
Emerging topics from these interviews included cultural support, government support and contingencies, family contact, identity documents, medical and dental support and third-party support services.
The invaluable information provided by guardians and carers has informed activities and discussions during community workshops, forming the basis for addressing challenges and opportunities in the design of the new guardianship support model.
Aboriginal guardianship support community workshops
Based on feedback from guardians, AbSec organised a series of locally-based co-design workshops to define and develop the supports needed for children to thrive. These workshops provided a platform for Aboriginal people, communities, and organisations to influence the development of new supports. The ideas and opportunities identified during the workshops were developed into the new guardianship support model.
Workshop objectives
- Understand what it means for Aboriginal children and young people on guardianship orders to thrive.
- Identify how these children and their families can be supported to thrive.
- Learn from guardians' experiences to identify needs.
- Explore opportunities for improvement.
- Generate ideas and opportunities for a new support model to test.
Post-workshop activities
- Aug 2020: Shared information outlining ideas and key themes from local workshops.
- Sep 2020: Shared service design information and tested design elements with children, guardians, and communities.
- Oct 2020: Finalised the design for acceptance by co-design participants.
- Dec 2020: Released the report on the model and design solutions, ready for implementation.
- Jan 2021: Submitted the report to the NSW Government for funding decision.
- Apr 2021: Prepared AbSec to commission trial services.
- May 2021 onwards: Guided the Aboriginal child and family sector on model implementation.
Understanding the service components of the AGSM
A local Community Hub
One point of contact, cultural and physical safe space, one-stop-shop, ability to drop-in service with someone trusting to talk to, with a trauma-informed support service who understand their circumstances and understand Aboriginal families.
A family-centred support service
Working with children and young people, their guardians and families with goal planning and to support achieving their aspirations and their goal plan (management and implementation) including financial planning and cultural planning, particularly where no formal plans exist with their care orders; addressing practical barriers to accessing supports and services, including therapeutic needs; and improving their skills and relationships, supporting and drawing on individual and family strengths and decision making; emergency after hours-call service.
Information and advice
On matters around guardianship, as well as on available community services and supports; assistance navigating access to culturally safe, targeted and universal services – including health, medical, dental, wellbeing, mental health, healing therapy, behavioural and other therapies, legal, government services: and referral to appropriate services.
Support and referral
To locate and access specialist services when needed and at the intensity needed – family & therapeutic counselling, Aboriginal Family Therapy specialists, therapists for trauma, healing, challenging behaviours, LGBTIQI needs, domestic & family violence, and drug and alcohol issues, disability and NDIS support for example.
Advocacy support
To better navigate and access services and support including government services, Department of Communities and Justice, Centrelink, legal, education, justice, housing, health, out-of-home care provider agencies.
Brokerage
Access to flexible funds linked to achieving their individual and family goal plans, including teenagers shaping their future to have the skills and confidence to live independently, while arrangements for contingency funds through the Department of Communities and Justice can be negotiated under a Financial Plan and Cultural Plan.
Connection to culture and Country
Developing cultural plans with Aboriginal children and young people and their guardians, carers and families, particularly where no ongoing case plan, financial plan and cultural plan exists; help with accessing support for their cultural plans; assisting families with implementing their plans and strengthen connections to family, mob, Elders, family events and ceremonies; being on Country to strengthen their belonging; and additional support for guardians who are not Aboriginal.
Connections to community and mentor support
Strengthen community links, participation and involvement, connection to community and cultural activities, events, camps for example – building connections with the Aboriginal community – local Aboriginal land councils, Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers etc, for local requirements and expectations; having facilitated peer support groups; activities and training; local young people’s support network, training and activities – having a voice.
Connections to local networks and service partners
Based on service and stakeholder mapping of the area, forming a network or forum of organisations and agencies as there are likely additional resources available to support the client group – representatives from education; training; housing; Aboriginal and mainstream health – medical, mental health, healing; Aboriginal family services, community youth support; legal aid and Aboriginal Legal Services; Centrelink Aboriginal Services etc; and Aboriginal community.
