Building Respectful Building Respectful Partnerships with Partnerships with

Aboriginal Child and Family Aboriginal Child and Family Welfare OrganisationsWelfare Organisations

A joint project involving the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency,

Berry Street Victoria and MacKillop Family Services

Respectful partnerships are vital - To ensure culturally appropriate

responses to the Aboriginal children, young people and families that mainstream agencies work with and care for, and

To achieve successful outcomes in any joint activities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations including capacity building projects.

Recognition of the importance of Recognition of the importance of culture and the right to self culture and the right to self determination for Aboriginal determination for Aboriginal

people is vital for the development people is vital for the development of respectful partnerships between of respectful partnerships between

mainstream organisations and mainstream organisations and Aboriginal child and family welfare Aboriginal child and family welfare

organisationsorganisations..

The Project so far …The Project so far …

Establishment of a steering group Establishment of a steering group with representatives from the three with representatives from the three organisationsorganisations

Employment of project worker by Employment of project worker by VACCAVACCA

Scoping of the project – relationship Scoping of the project – relationship between VACCA and Berry St/ VACCA between VACCA and Berry St/ VACCA and MacKillop and what is required and MacKillop and what is required for a respectful partnership to exist.for a respectful partnership to exist.

Where are we now?Where are we now?Draft cultural competence framework Draft cultural competence framework developed, coveringdeveloped, covering# Leadership & organisational cultureLeadership & organisational culture# Staff carers and volunteersStaff carers and volunteers# Welcoming and accessible environmentWelcoming and accessible environment# Service deliveryService delivery# Out of Home Care Out of Home Care # Research, practice & program Research, practice & program

developmentdevelopment# Community relationshipsCommunity relationships

Next steps …Next steps …

Workshops for Board and senior staff Workshops for Board and senior staff in both MacKillop and Berry St.in both MacKillop and Berry St.

Focus groups for staff in Berry St and Focus groups for staff in Berry St and MacKillop working in all the above MacKillop working in all the above areas. areas.

(Workshop and focus groups run by (Workshop and focus groups run by VACCA)VACCA)

Further scoping of what is neededFurther scoping of what is needed Finalisation of framework.Finalisation of framework.