1. Raylene Popovich Senior Learning & Development Aboriginal Agencies Consultant Practice Development Centre Barnardos Australia (02) 92818 2324 rpopovich@barnardos.org.au

2. How can we make cultural care plans more appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care?

3. Outline of Presentation 1.Confirmation of Aboriginality Certificates 2.Finding information about a child’s mob and land 3.Creating effective Cultural Care Plans

4. A confirmation certificate is required... when applying for grants, university courses, unemployment and housing assistance, school programs or when applying for jobs which require an Aboriginal applicant. http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/people/aboriginal-identity-who-is-aboriginal

5. Aboriginal people are either in support of the Confirmation Certificate or are against it “ Keeps us connected to our tribal areas and strengthens our cultural ties to people’s and land’s” “It’s extremely offensive to our sense of self identity”

6. Where to obtain a certificate Local Aboriginal Organisations Local Aboriginal Land Councils

7. Process in Applying for a Confirmation Certificate

8. Identifying Aboriginality with the parents are not known...

9. Koori Grapevine The most powerful communication network Fast track the Koori Grapevine by talking to people who are involved in sporting associations

10. Formal Aboriginal Organisations The Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) State Peak Body for Aboriginal children and young people in care Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care National Peak Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Family Link Program

11. Aboriginal Community Controlled OOHC Agencies (ACCO’s) If the child comes from the tribal area in which the OOHC Agency is located then both Agencies should co-ordinate annual visits for that the child or young person to return back to community at least minimally once a year.

12. What happens when I can’t find the child’s mob...

13. Developing cultural care plans Is a living document and review regularly Maintain connection to their cultural identity to their tribal area/s “Area” comes with stories, sacred sites, ceremonial and burial grounds Seek out: Significant sites Dreamtime stories Cultural knowledge specific to Tribal area Family Tree Mob Totem

14. Developing cultural care plans cont. Must be in consultation with Aboriginal people Ensure Aboriginal consultation is appropriate and respectful Invite Aboriginal people to act as a support person

15. Developing cultural care plans cont. Most appropriate consultants are family members Proactively engage with Aboriginal people who live in your community Don’t be too busy to make this a priority Aboriginal people are the experts on Aboriginal issues

16. For further information visit: my-story.org.au/resources