Holding on to Our Future: the Final Report of the Inquiry into the application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in the removal and placement of Aboriginal Children in South Australia, 2024.

Aboriginal children continue to be over-represented in the child protection system and removed from their families at an alarming rate. Despite changes to legislation in response to Royal Commissions, Inquiries and Coronial Inquests, removal rates have continued to increase year after year. The evidence provided to this Inquiry shows that removal of Aboriginal children from their families does not have positive outcomes and increases the intergenerational trauma and disconnection from family, kin, community and culture. 

The Aboriginal community needs to be more involved in preventing Aboriginal child removals. It is time for Aboriginal people to make decisions for Aboriginal children and their best interests.

There must be change in the way decisions are made and to centre Aboriginal people in decision-making. Families of Aboriginal children must be involved early in the process, and they must lead decision-making. Aboriginal parents must be given intensive and sustained support to prevent issues from escalating.

The Aboriginal community must be legally empowered and adequately resourced to implement a culturally appropriate care service system to keep Aboriginal children growing up safe and connected with family and culture. The future of our Aboriginal children needs to be in the hands of Aboriginal people. The South Australian Government should urgently implement the recommendations of the Inquiry (Lawrie, 2024, p. 146).