Changes made to Foster Care permanency laws concern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Victorian Labor Government has initiated an independent review of the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Permanent Care and Other Matters) Act 2014.
The review will be undertaken by the Commission for Children & Young Peoples Liana Buchanan & Andrew Jackomos.
Changes came into effect on 1 March 2016, and the review aims to examine whether changes have improved permanency of care for children and are working as intended.
Under Victorian law, permanency refers to an ongoing care arrangement that is deemed to keep a child safe and give them a sense of certainty about their future. For some children who are found by the Government as unable to return to their parents, permanency is achieved through alternative arrangements, such as permanent care or long-term foster care.
Under the new laws, children placed in a permanent foster home can have a court-imposed maximum of only four visits per year with their parents, in the first year of the arrangement.
SNAICC - National Voice for our Children are the national non-government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Sue-Anne Hunter a SNAICC - National Voice for our Children Director, spoke with Khi-Lee Thorpe for Living Black Radio.
There are concerns about the effect of removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and culture.
Sue-Anne also spoke about the need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foster carers.
The inquiry will commence on 1 September 2016 and be finalised in March 2017. Submissions will be sought shortly.