Overview

Child Safety is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and cultural connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children guided by legislation, policies and procedures. The safe care and connection kit emphasises and promotes the use of culturally capable practices that preserve and strengthen children’s connections to family, community, culture, and country.

The kit highlights the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cultures, recognising that better outcomes are achieved when families and communities lead and implement their own solutions.

Key actions for staff include:

• actively involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities in case decisions
• partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to design and oversee systems
• embedding self-determination and community-led solutions at all levels of practice
• applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle to the standard of active efforts (timely, thorough and purposeful), when making a significant decision about an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.

History of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, also known as the First Nation peoples, are the first inhabitants of Australia, with evidence of existence dating back to at least 65,000 years ago. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are the oldest living cultures in the world, predating the settlement of Europe and the Americas. Despite colonisation and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, these cultures are enduring, resilient and continue to thrive.

Two distinct cultural groups 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are Australia’s first peoples and are two distinct cultural groups. Each with their own languages, kinship structures, cultural practices, traditions and customs and ways of life. There is great diversity within these two broadly described groups demonstrated by over 250 different language groups spread across the nation. It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of the two distinct cultures.

Each culture has its own flag to symbolise and celebrate their separate and unique identities. In July 1995, both the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag were proclaimed as official flags in section 5 of the Flags Act 1953.

Understanding Aboriginal culture

Aboriginal peoples comprise diverse Aboriginal nations, each with their own language and traditions, and historically lived on mainland Australia, Tasmania, and many of the continent’s offshore islands.

Australian Aboriginal culture varies throughout the country and people from different regions have different languages, weaponry, utensils, tools, basketry, art styles, ceremonial dress, and beliefs in ancestral beings. Reverence for the land and oral traditions are emphasised.

Aboriginal people have referred to themselves for example as Koori, Murri, Nunga, Goorie and many other names which is relevant to the greater region they are connected to. It’s best to find out what individuals prefer to be called, rather than making assumptions. Aboriginal peoples identities can also directly link to their language groups and traditional country. (Refer to Aboriginal peoples | The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.)

The Aboriginal flag was designed in 1971 by artist Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from Central Australia and was first flown on National Aboriginal Day in 1971 in Adelaide.

Understanding Torres Strait Islander culture

Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands. The Torres Strait is 150 kilometres across and joins the Coral Sea to the east with the Arafura Sea to the west. Trade in artefacts made of pearl shell, turtle shell, feathers, canoes, and tools are very important in the life of Torres Strait Islanders. These islands are characterised by unique cultural, linguistic, and geographic differences. Culturally, the islands are divided into 5 groups. (Refer to The Torres Strait Islander people.)

The Torres Strait Islander flag designed by the late Bernard Namok, was first launched in 1992.

Torres Strait Islander people prefer to use the name of their home island or their island cluster group to identify themselves to outsiders. For example, a Saibai person is from Saibai or is a descendant of the Guda Maluligal Nation (Top Western Cluster). While a Meriam person is from Mer or the Meriam Nation. Many Torres Strait Islanders are born on Thursday Island or on the mainland of Australia, but they still identify according to their connection to their island.

Cultural days of significance

There are several cultural days of significance for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Attendance at community events and ceremonies need to be respectfully considered as an opportunity for children and their families to commemorate or celebrate. These significant days include but are not limited to:

• 26 January - Survival/Australia Day
• 26 May - National Day of Healing (Formerly National Sorry Day)
• 29 May - Torres Strait Islands Flag Day
• 3 June - Mabo Day
•  27 May to 3 June - National Reconciliation Week-
• 1 July - Coming of the Light
•  Mid July - NAIDOC week
• 4 August - National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day
• 23 August - Anniversary of the First Councillors Meeting, Masig
• 16-19 September - Winds of Zenadth Cultural Festival (occurs once every 2 years).