Cultural Support Plan Development for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Child
Introduction
Traditions and customs are an integral part of developing a sense of identity for an Indigenous child. Additionally, family, clan, and community are significant elements that directly impact children’s health, social, educational, and psychological development and delineate their growth through adolescence to adulthood. The past government policies had detrimental impacts on Indigenous children’s lives as justified by the Department of Communities (Child Safety). Consequently, the department aims to promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their future generations by eradicating over-representation and predispositions of Indigenous children in the child protection systems through a cultural support plan.
Essentially, a cultural support plan is a personalized, dynamic written plan whose purpose is to develop and uphold children’s cultural identity by linking them to family, clan, community, and traditions. A cultural support plan is a fundamental tool through which Child Safety interventions maintains Indigenous child’s connections with society and culture.
This paper will provide coherent information on the significance of a cultural support plan as learned from Aboriginal Child, Family, and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) Organization. Besides, the paper will elaborate on individuals with whom a cultural support plan is necessary, participants in the development of the plan, and the development of the cultural plan. Besides, information captured in the cultural support plan, recording, dissemination, and review of the cultural plan will elucidate the key cultural concepts.
Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat Organization (AbSec)
AbSec is one of the vibrant organizations in Sydney that handles critical matters concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. It is a non-profit Indigenous corporation that works to empower children youths and families subject to child protection systems and help Indigenous community-based child and family sector to provide crucial and ardent support in Indigenous communities. AbSec works in tandem with the Department of Communities (Child Safety) to promote the cultural connection of Indigenous children with their family, kinship groups, culture, and specific communities. It is important to note that AbSec focuses on child protection and provides out-of-home care services while ensuring that Indigenous views are taken into account in the formulation of government policies’ societal reforms. AbSec recognizes that cultural identity is an important facet in the essential safety being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their future generations (“AbSec – NSW Child, Family, and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation | Welcome,” 2020). As such, the organization ensures that cultural connections are tailored to support Indigenous communities’ better engagement for enhanced services to Indigenous children and their families. The cultural support plan is necessarily incorporated in their line of services as a mechanic through which cultural connections are strengthened.
Significance of a Cultural Support Plan
Importantly, the cultural support plan facilitates and maintains connections of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child with family, community, and culture irrespective of their location. It is essential in case the planning of Indigenous Australians (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). It is worth noting that cultural support includes useful information concerning the child’s family, kinship group, and cultural background. Thus, it widens the understanding of Indigenous child position in his or her family and community organization. Besides, the cultural support plan aids in nurturing and holistically shaping Indigenous children while promoting their cultural identity. Through cultural support plan, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can build community networks and uphold Indigenous cultural heritage. Opportunities for children’s participation in events and activities that help sustain connections with family, kinship groups, and community are identified though cultural plan, which is in line with (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). For children who are too young to participate in their cultural support plan, their family and cultural information are maintained. Finally, the information contained in the cultural support plan is primarily tailored to individual Indigenous needs.
Individuals whose cultural support plan is compulsory
It is essential to point out that cultural support plan is necessary for any Indigenous child under intervention. The cultural support plan is devised in the family group meeting, where the AbSec staff identifies and confirms the child’s Indigenous status before recording personal information (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). Identification of the children by their family and other Indigenous people should be declared at the family group meeting. In this interest, every child who either identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she resides and is subject to ongoing intervention is entitled to a cultural support plan.
When the child is not under out-of-home care intervention, the cultural support plan may not be comprehensively completed. As such, minimal information is recorded in the cultural support plan. Thus, the family is responsible for providing the cultural needs of the child without any involvement of AbSec or Child Safety organizations. Equally, when the child is under protection care agreement, cultural support plan excludes him or her. However, the condition considers the time the child will remain in care, the contact of the child with the family, and whether the child is allocated a culturally supportive carer.
Participants in the development of cultural support plan
The development of cultural support plan incorporates a partnership with a child of considerable age and his or her family. Also, the family group meeting members are involved in developing the cultural support plan. Child Safety officers, staff from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations, elders from Indigenous communities are engaged in the process (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). The participants are crucial because they provide substantial information regarding the child, family, community, and the cultural customs of the Indigenous community.
Development of cultural support plan
The process of developing the cultural support plan for First Nation Australian proceeds with sensitivity, and mindfulness of the cultural competence skills. As such, the task must incorporate the identified participants to ensure that the required cultural information of an Indigenous child is taken into account (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural support plan, 2005). The Department of Communities, through Child Safety, ensures that only relevant people are involved, and the cultural background of the child is critically discussed in a family group meeting. Besides, the department provides frequent contact with the child’s family, and appropriate cultural information is obtained. Finally, the gathered information about the child’s connection with family and culture is used to develop a cultural plan.
Relevant information recorded in a cultural plan
One of the crucial information recorded in the cultural support plan is the child’s Indigenous clan, ethnic, language, cultural, and Island community group. The information is provided by the family or involved community members, the identified family group meeting members, and Child Safety Officer (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). Besides, the names and family contact details and those of cultural support custodians are recorded in the plan. Equally, crucial information about the parent’s and sibling’s family and cultural background are recorded.
Preparations for supportive cultural activities to boost the child’s identity and connection to community and culture are taken into account. The activities must outline the parties involved, benefits for children from participation, location, and any financial need from Child Safety (Caring for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander kids, 2005). Mainly, the child’s well-being and safety are taken into consideration through a critical assessment of potential risks. The cultural support plan outlines specific activities and experiences in which a child should participate, including contact with family members—attending such cultural events as tombstone opening and other cultural festivals, engaging in sporting, leisure, arts, and recreational activities of Indigenous people. Lastly, an Indigenous child should be allowed to experience Indigenous community services like health and childcare services.
Maintenance funds and approval required to support activities delineated in the cultural plan from the Child Safety is recorded. Additionally, the carer support is sourcing for mentorship from Indigenous communities, literature materials, and artwork from specific cultural groups (“Cultural support plan,” 2020). If the need arises, a carer may need support to attend training programs and annual calendar events. Therefore, the cultural support plan outlines the importance of supporting the carer, supporting the task for effectiveness.
It is worth noting that the cultural support plan encompasses information about people who are identified to closely monitor and assist an Indigenous child under intervention through the development process of cultural identity. The policy outlines crucial criteria for the contact and relationship of the person with the child (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural support plan, 2005). Besides, the frequency of communication and the stipulated location is identified. Any requirement in support of cultural support plans, such as supervision and additional support, is recorded. Finally, any restrictions of persons for contacts with the child should be clearly defined to ensure that the plan is accomplished.
Actual recording, approving, and disseminating and reviewing the cultural support plan.
The cultural support plan is part of the case plan. Thus, the support plan for Indigenous children is recorded in the case plan. Either the convenor or the Child Safety Officer is responsible for recording the cultural support plan. It is essential to ensure that the information being recorded is clear, sufficient, and directly relevant to addressing the child’s cultural wants (Caring for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander kids, 2005). Upon completion of the appropriate information, the support plan is provided to the child, the parents, or foster kinship carer and any other relevant individuals in the implementation of the support plan. Importantly, changes in the child’s cultural needs require consistent updating of the support plan whenever a review is done. Therefore, the cultural support plan is dynamic.
Theory of Change
AbSec organization focuses on helping Indigenous children to become beneficial in the future by shaping them developmentally and helping them to realize their capabilities. The organization implements an inclusive approach to supporting identity and connection to culture. The organization enhances the cultural identity of Indigenous children by actively facilitating relationships with family, kinship groups, and communities. For effectiveness, AbSec empowers the communities to provide a safe and child-focused cultural environment for their children. The organization acts as a go-between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and society. As such, it amplifies the voices of Indigenous people to increase awareness. In the long-run, Indigenous-oriented decision-making regarding the best services for Indigenous children and young persons is attained (The Theory of Social Change, 2011). Thus, a profound change in society is achieved through cultural support plan.
Core Cultural Concepts
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders requires one to familiarize themselves with crucial cultural concepts. One of the essential ideas is cultural diversity. Indigenous groups are classified into different groups, namely, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. A person can identify with one or more cultures of Indigenous groups to which they belong. Indigenous identity helps in determining the proper social service delivery. An Aboriginal person is one of Aboriginal descent who identifies and is accepted as such by the community. Torres Strait Islander identifies by decency as such and is communally taken by the Torres Strait Islanders. Besides, culture entails traditionally and conventionally accepted ways of conducting oneself within the society, including beliefs, religion, language, and shared activities. Compatibility to community culture is approved by the family, community elders, or well-recognized staff. Indigenous children are the responsibility of the Extended family.
Additionally, the children are not isolated from the rest of the community (Caring for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander kids, 2005). Thus, the extended family reflects the larger family of a child, incorporating different families of the same lineage. Language groups are delineated by the local dialect spoken within distinct clan groups. A clan group refers to a local descent group with common ancestry, but more substantial than a family.
Conclusion
Generally, a cultural support plan is essential in enhancing the cultural identity of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders children, young people, and their families. In essence, cultural support plan provides an avenue through which the cultural identity of Indigenous children is confirmed. The development of a cultural support plan entails a careful and sensitive process of capturing family and culture-oriented information that is primarily used when such circumstances Indigenous support services arise. Importantly, the support plan aims to reform service provision for Indigenous communities and address pervasive cultural inequalities in Australia. Besides, the core cultural concepts are crucial in ensuring substantial service provision and enhancing effectiveness when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Therefore, the cultural support plan is integrated into Indigenous community organizations to improve service delivery.
References
AbSec – NSW Child, Family, and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation | Welcome. (2020). Retrieved 7 August 2020, from http://www.absec.org.au
Cultural support plan. (2020). Retrieved 7 August 2020, from https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/child-family/our-performance/high-quality-services-improved-wellbeing/cultural-support-plan
Dept. of Human Services. (2005). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural support plan. Melbourne.
NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian. (2005). Caring for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander kids. Parramatta, NSW.
Routledge. (2011). The Theory of Social Change.