Promoting Belonging and Identity for Children in Kinship Care

Kinship
‘Circling back’ by Aboriginal artist Dhinawan Baker and digital creators Coedie McCarthy and Mundara Baker. Description: " A family, a tribe, a community standing unified; elders, parents, and children an unbreakable network of kin. Bordering them, twin boomerangs arc in graceful symmetry, these ancient tools don’t fly aimlessly, they are cast out intentionally to gather and return, carrying spirits home. They encircle the mob, holding and shielding in seasons of healing.” @DhinawanBaker

Promoting Belonging and Identity for Children in Kinship Care

Children and young people removed from their parents’ care risk unemployment, homelessness and involvement with criminal justice and mental health systems. Kinship care offers the potential for stability across the life course and is now the preferred arrangement, particularly for First Nations children. International research shows that children in kinship care achieve better outcomes than those in foster care or residential care, including greater relational stability, stronger cultural connections, alleviation of the trauma of forced removal and improved long-term educational and employment prospects.

The aim of this research is to explore belonging and identity through the lived experiences of children, young people, their carers, and the practitioners who support them. The project shifts the discourse from research that is ‘about them’ to ‘with them’ by facilitating the meaningful participation of children and young people and bringing their views and perspectives into dialogue with kinship carers and practitioners.

 

research design

Research Team

The study is being undertaken by an expert team led by Professor Lynne McPherson (CCYP, SCU) working with Professor Stuart Barlo and Dr Kylie Day (The Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples, SCU), Adjunct Associate Professor Janise Mitchell and Dr Kelly Royds (Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care, Australian Childhood Foundation), Professor Kathomi Gatwiri (Flinders University), Adjunct Associate Professor Emily Hindman (CCYP, SCU) and international expert Emeritus Professor Robbie Gilligan (Trinity College, IRL). The Project Manager is Dr Antonia Canosa (CCYP, SCU).

Research Partners

Our project is co-designed with a Young People Advisory Group (YPAG) and is guided by two adult advisory groups; a Project Advisory Group (PAG), comprising representatives from partner organisations and subject matter experts, and an Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG), comprising kinship carers with lived experience and local Bundjalung Elders.

The project is funded by the Australian Research Council (LP250100222) in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC), a division of the Australian Childhood Foundation, CASPA, Anglicare Victoria and OzChild.