ESSAY WRITING

Case study of aboriginal children

Introduction

In the recent studies of out-of-home care for children in Australia, it was found that aboriginal
children are abundantly over placed into the system as compared to non-indigenous children of
the community. In the case study presented, few underlying determinants pinpoint the cause of
this rapid placement of aboriginal children. Few studies claim that in Australia’s history, there
are more children being removed today than before (Delfabbro et al., 2010). The case study
suggests that rural environment is a disadvantage for children as compared to the support and
interventions available for parents in an urban community.

Deconstructing the case study

Providing an intervention and initiating a community program is effective when a culturally

competent person who understands the values and beliefs of a society is in charge. Similarly, a
non-indigenous person as mentioned in the case study may not be the accurate choice to govern
the changes and expect a new community which she does not understands completely to show
compliance with these initiatives. Aboriginal people have their own history and culture that they
hold close to them and the prospect of an outsider threatens their living ways (Tilbury, 2008).
Although the case study shows that she tried to gain assistance from the community elders but
young parents were noncompliant to the community center’s playgroup.

One of the underlying reason for hesitance from the young parents is the idea of authorities
taking their children away based on the conditions of the rural area they live in. As the practices
go, they are aware of the number of aboriginal children taken into the out-of-home care where
they grow up almost unaware of their origin and culture leading them to lose the identity of
where they belong from. Victoria’s child protection system has evidently failed to provide a
cohesive nurturing environment for aboriginal children who grow up in isolation, discrimination
and with no kinship (Anderson et al., 2016). Additionally, indigenous children are kept into the
system for a longer period under the care of non-indigenous care givers as compared to other
children. Young parents of the children as demonstrated in the case study may have these notions
based on the evidence and their perception of the situation could be heavily influenced by it.

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The reason behind the removal of aboriginal children in evident in Australian history famously
known as ‘stolen generations’ as it is still in today’s world. They are taken away based on
various real and stigmatized reason like poor living conditions, education, sexual and substance
abuse, imprisonment and lack of attention from family. Considering the case studies, families
may feel threatened that mandatory actions could be taken against them if children are actually
living in a hostile environment, they will be taken into out-of-home care where they will grow
without their aboriginal roots and practices (Anderson, 2017).

Aboriginal practices and culture are almost 40,000 years old and their association with their
customs and norms are strengthened over the years. Australian government started removing
children into the foster care because they believed children will die if they kept living under
poorly provided facilities for the aboriginal community. Cultural practices are rendered normal
or acceptable when they make their place within the society serving the needs and benefits of its
people, similarly, Australian government believes that children living away from such
circumstances will ensure their better future (Buckskin et al., 2013). Analyzing the situation from
the paternal point of view, it is believed in an indigenous community that they are the victim of
racism and stigmatization and are being targeted to destroy their history. Such belief system
seems to be at play in the case study affecting the community’s behavior to avoid the activities of
a new community center.

Confronting the issue

Appropriate practices in a family institution vary from a culture to culture, which may be
considered firm beliefs and ways of living in one community may not have the same value in
another community, however comprehensive it may be. Aboriginal families hold their customs
close to their heart and the prospect that their children may be taken away from them by
Australian government induce hostility, incompliance, and anger towards the authorities. On the
other hand, reports and studies have revealed that aboriginal children and women are victims of
violence and abuse especially in rural areas (Bessell, 2011).

An underlying assumption that is overlooked in the studies is racial discrimination against

aboriginal Australians both implicitly and explicitly in different aspects of life contributing to
poor living standards, occupational opportunities, health, and care etc. Contributing to this

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assumption is less beneficial policy and laws in the favor of aboriginals and other ethnic groups.
Despite social and economic disadvantages, there is insufficient funding and donation towards
the preventive programs that identify the issues on the earlier stages (Paradies, Harris &
Anderson, 2008). But in reality, the government has been taking the children away from their
kinship and forcing them to grow in an isolated area, as many children in the out-of-home care
centers later described their experience as one of darkest times of their lives with no sense of
identity and warmth from family.

Racism attitudes and beliefs are relatively much higher in a civilized country like Australia than
one expects it to be. Almost 52% Australians belonging to an urban setting and 69% of regional
center revealed prejudice and malice against aboriginal families contributing to a bigger dilemma
of mental health issues, abuse, and fear amongst them. Child rearing is a delicate process that
ideally requires both natural parents of the child in a socially, emotionally and economically
stable environment (O'Donnell, Scott & Stanley, 2008). Most reports showed that aboriginal
children were not living with both natural parents which were implicitly a cause for sexual and
physical abuse, due to lack of job opportunities, housing and education in the community, they
indulged into substance abuse which consequently provided an opportunity for government to
keep the child safe by removing him/her from the parental home. Both issues come together in a
vicarious cycle feeding to each other.

Theorizing the case study

The case study presented in the essay offers a limited amount of information e.g. nature of
activities that were included in the first session conducted by the non-indigenous community
worker. As the case study describes that only a few parents attended the first session but did not
return to the second session. Having detailed information can help establish the reason for such
behavior exhibited by the community. Another aspect of the case study is not discussed here i.e.
racial discrimination against aboriginal Australians. Studies have illustrated the validity of a
culturally competent worker and its efficacy in relation to results while dealing with
discriminated, limited and diverse ethnic groups. The huge quantity of children being removed
from their houses in rural areas may be due to poor housing, education and occupational facilities
leading towards risky environment for children as compared to urban areas where aboriginal
families may avail opportunities and even feel less discriminated. The burden of racial

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discrimination is often considered as an untouchable issue yet very real in society. Experimental
studies measured a relatively higher degree of avoidance of working together among workers
when they had an out-group individual in the setting and showed indifferent and hostile attitude
towards such members (Larson et al, 2007). In the case study, the non-indigenous person may
not be racist, instead have pure intentions to work for the betterment, but the thought process of a
community may be an underlying determinant of what is happening in the case.

Many theories explain the basic needs of a growing child to achieve his full potential e.g.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs sheds light on a person’s sense of belongingness and love, after
achieving safety (that authorities explain by removing the child away from his family), but
evidence based data has revealed that when a young child between the age of 3-17 is taken away
from his culture and family, his sense of belonging and self-identity is severely compromised.
Child trauma and fear induced by the removal shape the development and growth of the child
leading to adverse changes in their adulthood (Moss, 2009). Experiences of aboriginal children
in foster care are illustrated by culturally, physically and spiritually inept behavior and schemas
regarding life. In 2016, two reports revealed that Australian government has failed to provide an
authentic and safe system for aboriginal children with little or less attention given to healing the
trauma from family violence and then taken away from family to a new isolated place, therefore
contributing more violent behavior in the next generation in a vicarious cycle of poverty and
abuse (Nathanson & Tzioumi, 2007).

Analyzing the situation from the effects children may have while growing in a neglecting
environment where domestic violence is very common, they certainly are at the risk of not
completing their developmental milestones on time, learning abusive behavior as explained by
social learning theory which clearly states that children learn from their family by observation
and imitation. Hence, in adverse cases, removing child from his aboriginal family where such
risks are present is an important decision but as the case study explains if the level of risk is not
high, prevention programs and intensive family support seems like better alternatives rather than
losing the sight of siblings, family and culture. The only challenge is the assessment of a child in
a more consistent and holistic way first, which again the case study revealed was not possible
due to lack of participation for playgroup session.

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Think otherwise

After analyzing the case study from various frameworks and theories, the importance of child
rearing environment, racial discrimination and its effects on the ethnic group and need for out-of-
home care in adverse cases, it is essential to look further to explain the situation and better
outcomes that shape these issues. Another perspective that comes to the mind is understanding
the viewpoint of the elders of aboriginal families and assessing their needs via culturally
competent advisor that could help understand the conditions and threats children may have living
in such conditions (Whenan, Oxlad & Lushington, 2009). To label that a child living in a rural
setting has more risk for intervention as compared to the rural areas where interventions and
early support is available may be a limited approach to view the situation. Instead of focusing on
more opportunities for parents to provide for their families, proficient educational facilities, and
programs for them in an urban setting may be an indicator of little or less racial discrimination. A
huge body of research from either aboriginal families’ perspective or child care organizations’
perspective has been reviewed in this paper but there is a limited amount of data explaining the
point of view and needs of the young children who are taken away from their homes and their
attitude towards foster care.

Conclusion

This paper examines the underlying assumptions presented in the case study and touches the root
causes of the aboriginal family thought process and stigmatization attached to it that governs the
behavior of young families living in the rural setting presented in the case. However, it also
explores the need of removing children into out-of-home care centers and explains the ideal
situation for child rearing. Throughout the paper, it has been carefully emphasized with the help
of frameworks and theories that the situation of aboriginal children overly represented in foster
care is a vital and most pressing concern for Australia that requires effective interventions on
various level that builds up to the issue at hand.

It is incumbent that we develop understanding of overrepresentation of aboriginal children in

out-of-home care centers but we must continue to address the interrelated factors contributing to
the issue as well which requires active programs and studies pointed in the right direction with

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involving the aboriginal leaders into the process. In doing so, we may control the risk factors for
children in their own aboriginal families and cultures.

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