Berry Street Web Docs Berry Street Aboriginal Plan | Page 2

Berry Street Aboriginal Plan 2009-2012 The Context Within Which We Operate In Victoria, the foundation of the Children, Youth and Families Act (2005) is the 'Best Interests of the Child' principles which promote "...the need, in relation to an Aboriginal child, to protect and promote his or her Aboriginal cultural and spiritual identity and development by, whenever possible, maintaining and building their connections to their Aboriginal family and community." ■ Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data indicates that there are over 15,000 Aboriginal children and young people living in Victoria. However, many Aboriginal Communities believe that the ABS figures significantly underestimate the actual number of Aboriginal children, young people and families living in Victoria. ■ The age structure of the Victorian Aboriginal population is considerably younger than that of the non-Aboriginal population. ■ The Victorian Aboriginal population is distributed almost evenly between metropolitan and country regions. ■ The life expectancy of Aboriginal males and females in Victoria is approximately 18 years lower than for non-Indigenous Victorians. ■ Aboriginal children and young people are overrepresented in Child Protection (ten times more likely to be substantiated as Child Protection cases), and out of home care. ■ Aboriginal women and children are over-represented in family violence statistics. ■ Victoria’s school retention rates for Aboriginal young people are amongst the worst in Australia. ■ Aboriginal youth are involved with the Juvenile Justice system at 11 times the rate of non-Aboriginal males and 23 times the rate of non-Aboriginal females. Berry Street is a major provider of services to Aboriginal children, young people and families, with approximately 300 Aboriginal people accessing Berry Street services in 2008-09, including about 90 children and young people in the Take Two program. We work in partnership with numerous Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, including a significant partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). ■