Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Table of contents:

Graph

Proportion of Indigenous children subject to ongoing intervention with a cultural support plan, as at 30 June 2011 Proportion of Indigenous children subject to ongoing intervention with a cultural support plan, as at 30 June 2011

YearCultural support plan recordedNo cultural support case plan yet recorded
2010-11 94 % 6%

Table

DescriptionAnnualQuarterly
CSP.1: Number of Indigenous children subject to ongoing intervention with a cultural support plan, Queensland Excel (XLS, 28 KB) Excel (XLS, 28 KB)

What is a cultural support plan?

A cultural support plan is developed for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children who are subject to ongoing intervention. It aims to keep children connected to their culture, families and communities regardless of the placement in which they are living.

Cultural support plans are reviewed in conjunction with the review of the case plan i.e. at least every six months.

Why this topic is important

The cultural support plan is a key part of the case planning process for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children subject to ongoing intervention. It is a tool that can:

  • help nurture and support children to strengthen their cultural identities and connection to what it means to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • assist with their understanding of their community networks and cultural heritage
  • assist children to increase their knowledge and understanding of their place in their family, kinship and community structure.

Trends

As at 30 June 2011, there were 3,891 Indigenous children subject to ongoing intervention. Of these, 3,657 or 94.0 per cent had a cultural support plan.

Of those Indigenous children subject to ongoing intervention with a cultural support plan, 2,948 (80.6 per cent) had a current cultural support plan (i.e. either initially created in the last six months or reviewed in the last six months).

There are a number of valid reasons why an Indigenous child subject to ongoing intervention may not have a cultural support plan recorded on a particular reference date. These include instances where the case plan:

  • has not yet been developed. A family group meeting is required to develop a case plan. This meeting must be held within 30 days of the decision a child is in need of protection, or within the timeframe set by the court on an adjournment. For example, it would be legitimate for a child who enters ongoing intervention on 5 June to not yet have a case plan and therefore a cultural support plan approved and recorded on ICMS by 30 June
  • has been developed, but is not yet recorded on the central system
  • has been completed and entered on the central system, but is yet to be approved.