NSW Department of Communities and Justice

DCJ is today celebrating the work of two Aboriginal staff who are helping keep families strong and thriving at the Port Macquarie Client Services Centre on Biripi Country. Acing Client Services manager Binnie Carter, pictured left, is a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi woman leading a team with the mission to ‘walk alongside everyone in the community’. Binnie does this by “upholding morals and upholding people’s dignity, because that flows on to how we partner with families.” “Families and communities have the answers, which is we why have to work to work together,” she says. Alongside Binnie is Gomeroi woman Donna Harper, acting manager casework, who joined DCJ nine months ago, after working in domestic and family violence support and prevention. “I felt a lot of heartache about this department,” she says. “I didn’t think I’d last, which I was worried about because I wanted to be on the inside, making change.” Donna believes their team’s work embodies the positive change the government wants to make in child protection. “It aligns perfectly with active efforts (keeping children safe with family or restoration as soon as possible if a child does come into care) and the move to professional judgement and family’s strengths, rather than analysing data for decision-making,” Donna says. “It’s long-overdue change that supports families to stay together and will stop the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the system.” As a leader, Binnie actively champions staff development, including cultural capability and practice supervisions, to acting-up opportunities. Other initiatives that have positively influencing the centre’s relationship with the community have included: • Establishing a dedicated wellbeing team, in which Elders visit children in non-Aboriginal placements and provide feedback and experiences in a yarning circle. • Regular meetings and visits to community to develop relationships and cultural capability for all staff. • Walking with the community by attending cultural events and initiatives, such as NAIDOC Week celebrations. • Setting up Port Macquarie’s first Aboriginal Consulting group.

Join us for the FACSIAR Lunch and Learn Webinar: "Missing Links: Attachment Theory and Aboriginal Children, Families, and Communities" 🗓 Date: Tuesday, 17 September. 🕛 Time: 12 pm–1 pm AEST 💻 Platform: MS Teams Hosted by Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR), this webinar will feature Dr. Paul Gray and Ash Wright, authors of "Attachment and the (mis)apprehension of Aboriginal children: epistemic violence in child welfare interventions." Dr. Gray and Ms. Wright will discuss how the misapplication of Western developmental constructs, like attachment theory, in Australian child protection policies disproportionately affects Aboriginal families and children. They will explore the impact of applying non-Indigenous frameworks on child development and how these contribute to ongoing inequities in the system. Chair: Noni Greenwood, Director Aboriginal Culture in Practice, Office of Senior Practitioner, DCJ. Speakers: Dr. Paul Gray: Wiradjuri man, leader of the Indigenous child protection hub, Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research, UTS. Ash Wright: Nunga woman, provisional psychologist, and PhD candidate, Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research, UTS. 🔗 Register for this free webinar: https://lnkd.in/eR5Bn7sw 📧 Contact: [email protected] Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and engage with leading experts on this critical topic!

Are you passionate about disability rights? Do you want to help advise the NSW government about disability policy? Do you want to live in a more inclusive and accessible community? A seat on the Disability Council NSW puts you at the heart of change for people with disability. Applications close 29 September 2024. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g5nawCB8 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gwn-sV-E

When Kyle learned he had a son in care, he was determined to bring him back home. He wanted his son to grow up proud, deeply connected to family, kinship and culture. With the unwavering support of a dedicated Aboriginal casework team, Kyle secured stable housing, an NDIS plan for his son, and the parenting support he needed. Watch this video to find out how Kyle overcame obstacles, challenged DCJ and brought his son back home.

Corrective Services NSW turned purple today as our staff embraced the Wear it Purple initiative, showcasing that acceptance and understanding are at the core of what we do. CSNSW and DCJ are proud to support a movement that celebrates diversity, inclusion and supports young people in their journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Wear it Purple Day is a reminder of the vital role we play in shaping a more inclusive community. Swipe to see our amazing staff members rocking their purple outfits.

🏆 The search is on! Do you know the next NSW Women of the Year? Nominations are officially open for the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2025. We’re looking for ground-breaking thinkers, everyday heroes, social reformers and innovative role models who inspire us all. 🌟 Nominations are open until 11:59pm Sunday, 15 September 2024. Recognise their achievements and nominate them now: https://lnkd.in/grQDj3bs #WOTYA #WomenNSW

Paid parental leave has now been extended to foster, relative and kinship carers working across the public sector. NSW Government employees can now access up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave when starting a permanent placement, including relative and kinship arrangements, giving you valuable time to bond and help your young person adjust to their new environment. If you’re a NSW Government employee considering becoming a foster carer, there’s never been a better time to apply. To find out more, visit: https://lnkd.in/gNat_-m7

Great to see our Secretary Michael Tidball and Sarah Cooper, a Biripi Nation woman, visiting the ID Know Yourself office. Their mentoring program for Aboriginal children in care demonstrates our commitment to improving outcomes for Indigenous youth and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.

Victims Services provides support to families and friends of missing persons in NSW. In Australia, more than 38,000 missing persons reports are received by police each year. Victims Services provides the following support to families and friends of missing persons in NSW: • free and confidential counselling • information and resources for families of missing people • referrals to support services. 📱 Call the Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063 or the Aboriginal Contact Line on 1800 019 123 (Mon – Fri, 9 am - 5 pm). Visit the Victims Services website https://lnkd.in/gAx9iFz6

Our Corporate Services division today hosted a Jersey Day morning tea to raise awareness of the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority. More than 100 staff came together, wearing colourful jerseys, to support their team and start conversations about organ and tissue donation. Did you know that more than 1,400 Australians are waiting for a life-saving transplant? Make your decision count this Jersey Day on Friday 30 August by joining the Australian Organ Donation Register at donatelife.gov.au.