For Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria
I write this piece to Aboriginal children and young people.
It has been an honor to be the Commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria for over three years, your Commissioner. I started in the role with the knowledge that you are the foundation and heartbeat of our communities and with a vision to protect your rights, listen to your wisdom and be guided by how you’re experiencing life as an Aboriginal child or young person in Victoria. Culturally, we know that you are our future and our now; it is because of the birth, growth, raising of Aboriginal children and young people, you, that we are the oldest continuing culture in the world.
The valuing of our children in clans, nations, family groups and communities for thousands of generations prior to colonisation saw healthy, happy, safe, connected Aboriginal children and young people.
My office wall has been decorated with many drawings, cards, letters, poems that I have received from you throughout my time serving as your Commissioner, and as my time comes to an end and the gifts are packed away safely, I write to share these final words and reflections with you.
When I started out as the Commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people, Cultural Safety had just become its own distinct Child Safe Standard (CSS 1). Leading the creation of the guide for Understanding cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people is something I am really proud of. This standard meant that organisations had to ensure the environments such as schools are culturally safe and that your diverse and unique identities are respected and valued.
Within my first two weeks of starting my role as your Commissioner I was on the road with our staff at the Commission hearing from many of you about your educational experiences, to inform the Let us learn systemic inquiry. Hearing directly from you for this inquiry was a powerful journey for me as a new Commissioner. The inquiry made 47 recommendations to drive reform to improve educational experiences and outcomes for children and young people in care. I want to thank every single one of you who I met across Victoria, the yarns that I had with you all shaped the powerful recommendations in Let us learn.
One of the great honours I had during my time as Commissioner was contributing to the Yoorrook inquiry which calls for institutional reform across many systems that directly impact your lives, including the child protection, youth justice and education systems.
I appeared before the historic truth-telling inquiry twice, where I carried your voices and experiences within a profound moment in Victoria’s history.
Aboriginal leaders and young people stood before the Yoorrook Commission to demand a better future for yourselves and future generations of Aboriginal children. Yoorrook displayed a formidable force of love for the next generation, a force that I know many of you found comforting, and that I am proud to have been a part of.
There have also been some difficult times. 2023 was the year of the Voice to Parliament Referendum, a time where debates about our rights as Aboriginal people were occurring across the country. It was gut-wrenching when the result with a majority no vote came in. Afterwards, staff at the Commission and I were hearing directly from you, your friends, community and family members about the impact of the Referendum, namely the rise in racism within schools.
Two years on, I am still seeing and hearing from you about the ongoing impact of the Referendum, and my message to you is that I am sorry. I am sorry that you have been on the receiving end of racism and truly have had to bear the brunt of the Referendum. Racism in this state continues for far too many Aboriginal children and young people.
As your Commissioner, I had the unique privilege of sitting beside you on both the worst and best days of your lives. I saw tears falling down the faces of children and young people in residential care. I sat alongside children and young people in secure welfare, where the gaping hole of isolation and loneliness is palpable. I have sat within the walls of youth justice centres with children who, despite all that is going against them, still hold hopes and dreams for the future.
I have had the opportunity to share your moments of joy, pride, and connection to family, culture, and community. I loved attending schools, where you proudly showed me your place of education. I loved attending graduation ceremonies and special NAIDOC or reconciliation week events. I thank all the young people and teaching staff who invited me to their schools, kindergartens, TAFE and other learning environments.
Whilst many Aboriginal children and young people experience life in this state differently, the things that make you happy, proud, and connected remain the same. You thrive when you’re in the community. We know that you’re at your happiest when you’re connected to culture and when your voices are heard and guiding all policy decisions affecting your lives.
To Aboriginal children and young people in residential care, thank you for trusting me with your experiences of residential care. Thank you for letting me into your home and sharing your vision for the change needed in residential care for children and young people. Too often you experience loneliness and disconnection from culture and community. You’re not alone and you belong.
To Aboriginal children and young people in youth justice centres, thank you for your engagement with me and the CCYP independent visitor program. You voice your needs and trust us to advocate on your behalf; this is brave and valued deeply by myself. I encourage you to keep speaking and engaging with adults you trust and programs you enjoy.
To Aboriginal children and young people experiencing racism, please know that you’re not alone. You have the right to live a life free from racism.
I reflect on all the beautiful and fun times when you welcomed me with open arms into your communities, like the stand-up paddle boarding in Geelong with Strong Brother Strong Sister, singing and raising the Aboriginal flag with the little ones in Berrimba Early Learning Centre in Echuca, painting and weaving at the Corroboree in Shepparton, mountain bike riding in Warburton, Koori surfing titles or the deadly Brazilian jiu jitsu in Mildura.
To the Aboriginal young people who I had the privilege to connect with as members of the Commission’s Youth Council, thank you for your limitless guidance, wisdom, and knowledge. It was an honor to be guided by you, laugh with you and map out ideas for change with you.
Finally, I end with a message of hope, you and I live in a state where our communities, our families, our Elders have successfully negotiated Australia’s first Treaty. I know many of you have family members on the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, and many of you have participated in Treaty yarns.
Whilst some days feel insurmountable and there are countless systems that work against you and collectively us as Aboriginal people, I depart as your Commissioner with hope, because that is the number one lesson I learnt from you, is to have hope and fight for your rights. And please know I will always be around as an advocate for your rights.
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This article has also been published in the National Indigenous Times.