“They Know What's Best for the Poor Little Black Fellows, Like They Did All Them Years Ago”: Continued Paternalism and Pressure to Place in the Australian Child Protection System

Beaufils, J; Corrales, T; Swan, AD

“They Know What's Best for the Poor Little Black Fellows, Like They Did All Them Years Ago”: Continued Paternalism and Pressure to Place in the Australian Child Protection System

Beaufils, J

Corrales, T

Swan, AD

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2025
Issue Date:: 2025-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Beaufils, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1002-464X
dc.contributor.author	Corrales, T https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7436-645X
dc.contributor.author	Swan, AD
dc.date.accessioned	2025-07-25T02:23:09Z
dc.date.available	2025-07-25T02:23:09Z
dc.date.issued	2025-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2025
dc.identifier.issn	0157-6321
dc.identifier.issn	1839-4655
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188827
dc.description.abstract	Child protection systems in Australia have been criticised for racialized policies that result in the over-policing of First Nations families and the removal of First Nations children. Under current colonial structures, “protection from harm” is used to justify the removal of First Nations children from community—sometimes permanently—at the expense of culture under the justification of timely decision making to achieve “permanency.” This is inconsistent with First Nations worldviews and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also contributes to the sustained and increasing over-representation of First Nations children in child protection and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) systems in all Australian states and territories. Drawing on interviews with 32 First Nations and 5 non-indigenous people in the state of New South Wales, Australia, this paper explores participants' perceptions of the purpose of placements in statutory OOHC for First Nations children. The findings highlight issues at the systemic, policy and practice levels that result in permanency being equated with disconnection from family and culture, at the expense of restoration. A lack of consultation with community and an inability to participate in decision-making has led to the continuation of colonial policies that prioritise safety through removal and disconnection. We discuss how these policy changes neglect community advice, and entrench the view that “permanency” is best achieved via permanent care away from family and community. We conclude by discussing the importance of genuine self-determination for the wellbeing of First Nations children, families, and culture.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Journal of Social Issues
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/ajs4.70035
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	16 Studies in Human Society
dc.subject.classification	General Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
dc.subject.classification	44 Human society
dc.title	“They Know What's Best for the Poor Little Black Fellows, Like They Did All Them Years Ago”: Continued Paternalism and Pressure to Place in the Australian Child Protection System
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Provost/Jumbunna
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Jumbunna Research
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-07-25T02:23:07Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Child protection systems in Australia have been criticised for racialized policies that result in the over-policing of First Nations families and the removal of First Nations children. Under current colonial structures, “protection from harm” is used to justify the removal of First Nations children from community—sometimes permanently—at the expense of culture under the justification of timely decision making to achieve “permanency.” This is inconsistent with First Nations worldviews and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also contributes to the sustained and increasing over-representation of First Nations children in child protection and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) systems in all Australian states and territories. Drawing on interviews with 32 First Nations and 5 non-indigenous people in the state of New South Wales, Australia, this paper explores participants' perceptions of the purpose of placements in statutory OOHC for First Nations children. The findings highlight issues at the systemic, policy and practice levels that result in permanency being equated with disconnection from family and culture, at the expense of restoration. A lack of consultation with community and an inability to participate in decision-making has led to the continuation of colonial policies that prioritise safety through removal and disconnection. We discuss how these policy changes neglect community advice, and entrench the view that “permanency” is best achieved via permanent care away from family and community. We conclude by discussing the importance of genuine self-determination for the wellbeing of First Nations children, families, and culture.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188827