What's the Answer? - Create

Case Study 3: An Aboriginal PerspectiveBackgroundMandy is a 19 year old Kabi Kabi woman (Aboriginal language group of South East Queensland), andalso identifies as an Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI). She was in and out of care from the age ofone, primarily residing in foster care. Within Mandy’s last two years of care (aged 16-18 years), shehad three foster care placements, and five residential placements. When she turned 18 years old, shestayed for four months in a mental health hospital, transitioned to a hotel for a week, stayed with afriend for approximately six months, and then became homeless. After six months of homelessness,Mandy moved back home to her birth family.Leaving care planningWorkers did talk to Mandy about what would happen once her Child Protection Order finished. Herformal transition planning did not commence until she was 17 years old. As no attention was given toher cultural heritage within the planning process, nor efforts made to link her to her extended familyand cultural communities, once she entered hospital her Leaving Care Plan was of no use to her.Furthermore, no one from the Department came to talk to her about her options.NeedsMandy’s specific needs regarding transitioning from care to independence centre round her identityand connection to her extended family and cultural communities. She stated there were no effortsmade to link her in with her extended family in Rockhampton, Cairns and Brisbane.BarriersMandy considers that her barriers to accessing support services were:• a lack of information regarding Indigenous specific organisations• a lack of acknowledgement of her ASSI background as being part of her cultural heritage• a lack of ASSI specific organisations. She also stated that it was difficult to establish herAboriginal/ASSI cultural identity when she is fair skinned; it is especially difficult for young peoplewho have lost connections to family and community after being in care as they struggle to answerthe question, “Who’s your mob?”.Solutions for governmentFor governments to better support young people from her cultural group transition from care,Mandy suggested a number of actions.• Introduce a ‘relationship program’ to support young people with essential insights andunderstandings they need when they reunite with their birth families.• Developing new policies and practice guidelines to acknowledge ASSI cultural backgrounds ofchildren and young people.• Enforcing policies regarding connecting children and young people to culture, as well as the ChildPlacement Principle.35