Devising practice standards for Aboriginal out-of-home care

This paper describes a process for devising out-of-home care policies and procedures for Aboriginal agencies offering out-of-home care services in New South Wales under the provisions of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act of 1998, which came into effect in December 2000. The Act established the position of Children’s Guardian, whose office would, among other things, be responsible for accrediting agencies providing out-of-home care services for children and families in NSW, including Aboriginal out-of-home care agencies. The paper is set against the backdrop of child welfare services in general and out-of-home care in particular, and speculates about the role of practice standards in developing, evaluating and improving out-of-home care service provision and agency practice for children, young people and families in NSW. Of particular importance was the use of a partnership-intensive process in order to arrive at standards that would promote the self-determination of Aboriginal peoples.