Background

The disproportionately high number of Aboriginal crossover children traversing child protection and youth justice systems is a longstanding concern across countries with historic legacies of settler-colonialism.

Aims

This study explored what key stakeholders who directly work with Aboriginal crossover children perceive are the unique characteristics and service needs of this group, and explored their views of current service system responses for Aboriginal crossover children.

Methods

Twenty-five semi-structured consultations were conducted with judicial officers (magistrates and judges), police prosecutors and officers, lawyers, child protection youth justice and education professionals, child and family mental health clinicians, and representatives from non-government agencies working with crossover children in South Eastern Australia. Three out of the sample of 82 participants identified as Aboriginal.

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that key stakeholders noted substantial social disadvantage, maltreatment, and household adversity among Aboriginal crossover children, alongside systemic barriers to cultural connection and cultural identity development, and the impact of intergenerational trauma for this group. Deficient child protection responses were often strongly emphasised, however findings demonstrated considerable disagreement among key stakeholders regarding the nature of Aboriginal crossover children’s service needs, and what might constitute effective responses to these. This study highlights the need for a common understanding and frameworks among service providers working collaboratively to support Aboriginal crossover children.

中文翻译：

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原住民跨界儿童的特征、服务需求和服务响应：澳大利亚关键利益相关者的观点

背景

跨越儿童保护和青年司法系统的原住民跨界儿童人数过多，这是具有定居者殖民主义历史遗产的国家长期关注的问题。

宗旨

本研究探讨了直接与原住民跨界儿童合作的主要利益相关者认为该群体的独特特征和服务需求，并探讨了他们对当前针对原住民跨界儿童的服务系统响应的看法。

方法

与司法官员（地方法官和法官）、警察检察官和官员、律师、儿童保护青年司法和教育专业人员、儿童和家庭心理健康临床医生以及与跨界工作的非政府机构代表进行了 25 次半结构化协商。澳大利亚东南部的儿童。在 82 名参与者的样本中，有 3 人被认定为土著。

发现

专题分析显示，主要利益相关者注意到土著跨界儿童存在严重的社会劣势、虐待和家庭逆境，以及文化联系和文化认同发展的系统性障碍，以及代际创伤对这一群体的影响。儿童保护措施的不足常常受到强烈强调，但调查结果表明，关键利益相关者之间在土著跨界儿童服务需求的性质以及可能构成对这些需求的有效回应方面存在相当大的分歧。这项研究强调了合作支持土著跨界儿童的服务提供者之间需要达成共识和框架。