Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

• the implicit or explicit interpretation of extended familial responsibility as‘abandonment’ or ‘inadequate supervision’,• the implicit or explicit interpretation of travel to maintain familial and culturalrelationships and responsibilities as ‘instability’,• differences in the level of freedom and responsibility accorded to Indigenous childreninterpreted as ‘lack of supervision’ or ‘lack of control’ over children, and• the cultural biases which become incorporated in assessments and reports may beused to justify more interventionist decisions by child welfare and juvenile justiceagencies as well as decisions in relation to matters such as child removal, adoptionand custody.Cultural factors were also examined in the 1994 ABS survey. The results point tothe importance of Indigenous culture in the lives of young people. Over two-thirds (68%)of Indigenous youth had attended cultural activities in the previous 12 months. Over half(56%) identified with a clan, tribal or language group. Just over 70% recognisedparticular homelands. 1 Almost one in five Indigenous young people spoke an Aboriginalor Torres Strait Islander language and for 13% an Indigenous language was the mainlanguage. In rural areas, 42% of young people spoke an Indigenous language and for 38%of youth in rural areas an Indigenous language was the main language spoken (ABS 1996pages 2-5). The results of the survey point to the active role played by culture in the livesof Indigenous young people and the active part played in cultural life by Indigenousyouth.Domestic violenceThe Inquiry was told that domestic violence is a problem in many communities(ALSWA submission page 322). It particularly affects Indigenous women and theirchildren. The failure to deal with domestic violence and the failure to meet the legalneeds of Indigenous women for protection against violent spouses inevitably affects thechildren and young people of families where violence is a problem. According to the1994 ABS survey, many Indigenous young people identified family violence as aproblem in their area. This view was more pronounced among Indigenous young womenthan young men (47% compared to 36%) (ABS 1996 page 23).The majority of Indigenous children ‘find high levels of warmth, acceptance,support and personal security in their homes. There are, however, Indigenous homeswhere there is violence and abuse. We met a number of young people who left theirhomes because of the unbearable tensions within them’ (Groome and Hamilton 1995page 28). Research has found a connection between a range of juvenile offences, problembehaviour such as truanting and domestic violence in the home (Beresford and Omaji 1996page 45).Domestic violence is a frequent feature in welfare department interventions intoIndigenous families. Domestic violence may cause the child’s home or a relative’s hometo be assessed as unsuitable for the child. The mother of the child may be in hospital as a