This cultural safety framework for working with First Nations peoples holistically considers cultural, spiritual, and social connections as means to know and have relationships with cultural and family groups and places in Country, supporting children and families to maintain cultural knowledge, identity, and sense of belonging.
This NAIDOC week, I have spent some time listening to the new, 4-part podcast series called “More Than Just a Kid in Care”. Written, produced and edited by young people who have grown up in care in NSW, the first episode explores “identity” and the importance of connection to culture. “I was missing the essence …
Children and young people need adults in their lives to make decisions that are in their best interest, create safety and foster positive relationships; this is paramount for children in out-of-home care. These best interest decisions are especially true for children and young people from culturally diverse backgrounds who are in out-of-home care or have a statutory intervention. Unfortunately, I have often seen a breakdown in relationships and communication due to language barriers, cross-cultural misunderstandings, and missed opportunities for repair and strengthening of protective factors.
Dr Jacynta Krakouer shares her doctoral research exploring First Nations children and young people’s experiences of cultural connection in Australian out-of-home care, prompting us to reflect on how we actively connect young people to culture according to their individual needs without relying on insufficient system processes or fearing failure.
