JOINT AASW-NCATSISWA-ACHSSW-ASSWE MEDIA RELEASE 28 June 2007
"Don't TAMPA with our aboriginal children"
The National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers Association (NCATSISWA), the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (ACHSSW) and the Australian Social Work and Welfare Educators (ASWWE) have written a joint and open letter in order to have our collective voices heard in expressing our views and concerns on the current proposed actions you believe are required to stop the abuse of children in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Open letter to The Hon. Mal Brough MP
28 June 2007
Open letter to The Hon. Mal Brough MP
Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Minister Brough
The undersigned Australian National Social Work organisations write this joint and open letter in order to have our collective voices heard in expressing our views and concerns on the current proposed actions you believe are required to stop the abuse of children in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and elsewhere.
We acknowledge that the time for significant action is now. This is an issue that touches the life of each and every one of us; it is an issue that must be placed beyond ‘politics’. We welcome and thank you for your commitment to tackling the violence and abuse in certain Indigenous communities.
Whilst we acknowledge that significant change takes time, we believe that there must be action now to improve existing services and resources addressing abuse in the NT and that there needs to be developed a comprehensive “all-of-government” approach to changing the culture of violence and abuse at all levels in the NT and elsewhere.
However, the Government needs to work in indisputable partnership with the communities concerned to tackle this issue. It is critically important to listen to the voices and ideas emerging from Indigenous Australians.
We have been very concerned about the mandatory health checks proposed and hope that your policy change on this issue is an indication that you are listening.
Despite our concern about the immediate issues, we need to hold to these truths: not all Aboriginal children have been abused; child abuse is a significant issue that affects both Indigenous and non-Indigenous families in all Australian communities; most Aboriginal men are not abusive; not all abuse of Aboriginal children is committed by Aboriginal people.
Many Indigenous communities have been crying out for support for many years and generally speaking governments have ignored Aboriginal Health and Welfare. We hope that your government’s actions reflect a genuine commitment to address the many issues negatively affecting the social and economic wellbeing of Indigenous communities across Australia.
The experience of the Stolen Generation has taught us that well intentioned interventions with children and families can have devastating and long term consequences. Social Workers have acknowledged with regret the part we have played in that policy and we are determined that that should not happen again. Long-term solutions can only be found through working closely and respectfully with Indigenous communities.
We believe that there needs to be more economic and regional development to build economic independence and sustainability. Many of these social problems stem from the trans-generational effects and trauma of the Stolen Generation. There needs to be a clear infrastructure to deal with the effects on children and families of the abuse (treatment and counselling). Child protection must go hand in hand with family support and service accessibility. Children are best protected when their families are with safe and sustainable communities where there is adequate policing and community capacity is promoted by a range of government assistance.
Yours sincerely
Ms Christine King
The National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers Association (NCATSISWA)
Dr Bob Lonne
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Professor Robert Bland
Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (ACHSSW)
Associate Professor Karen Healy
Australian Social Work and Welfare Educators (ASWWE)
Media Contact Person: Peter Richardson 0417 586 256
