In September, the Northern Territory Government announced a record $160 million investment in child protection. A welcomed commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
But real change will depend on how that money is spent and who leads it.
22,908 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are in out-of-home care, representing 41% of all children in care, even though they make up only 6% of the child population (Family Matters Report 2024).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 10.8 times more likely to be in care, and 11.5 times more likely to be removed as infants (Family Matters Report 2024).
Further, only 4 of 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and the NT has gone backwards in relation to early childhood education and development, and increases in youth detention and child removals (Closing the Gap 2025).
What do the people with lived experience of these systems say?
Young people who’ve grown up in care have told CREATE they feel disconnected from culture, community and kinship, unsupported when leaving care, and let down by high caseworker turnover.
Here is what they shared in their own words:
- “I feel disconnected from my people and my Country. I feel a lot of shame and hurt.”
- “We met some old people from Stolen Gen and one old lady knew my family and were we are from. She was telling me more than any of my caseworkers did when I was in care.”
- “Culture is important, because without it I wouldn’t be me, my culture is important but I wish I had the chance to understand it more growing up in care.”
- “They need people that aren’t going to make false promises and give hope.”
- “Leaving care plan being left to the last minute. I was homeless because I didn’t know about my leaving care plan.”
What needs to change
To begin addressing the issues raised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care — and by other advocates and organisations in the Northern Territory — the youngest Territorians’ voices must be heard; the Aboriginal Community-Controlled sector must be funded to support self-determined approaches to keeping kids safe, well and connected to culture and community; there must be a meaningful transfer of decision-making; and all five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle must be included in the Care and Protection of Children Act (CaPCA).
Read more in our submission on the review of CaPCA.
While the $160 million investment is a welcome step, for it to deliver the transformation that is needed, Aboriginal-led, community-based and culturally safe approaches must be at the centre of reform and the voices of young people must be heard.
