Child removal in Australia: Violating the CRC – Webinar Recording

This webinar is the eleventh in a series which is developing greater knowledge and understanding of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern at the increase in child removals in Australia and the inconsistent criteria for removals across different state/territory jurisdictions. It highlighted the disproportionate rate of removals of children from First Nations families and made a number of recommendations on these concerns.

This webinar will address these issues as it considers the perspective of Elizabeth Morgan House (EMH) in Victoria, a front-line service provider responding to the failure of governments to apply a child rights-based approach, and the harmful consequences for First Nations children and families. It will challenge the misuse of the “best interests of the child” and “welfare” principles in existing policy approaches.

In drawing on the experiences of EMH from speakers Kellyanne Andy, CEO and Monica Morgan, EMH Board member and CEO, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, and developing understanding of CRC’s definition of “best-interests of the child”, the webinar will emphasise how the CRC demands changes in current approaches. It will emphasise the need for Australian governments to implement the CRC Committee’s recommendations and properly fund solutions led by the Aboriginal community-controlled child and family organisations.