Departmental Policy

Source: Family Services Operational Manual 1993 at 134.

Aboriginal Child Placement Principle

When a child is to be placed outside his/her natural family, the Family Support Worker in the Aboriginal Centre, Family Support and Care Program must be contacted prior to placement.

The order for priority of placement should be:

A member of the child’s extended family

Other members of the child’s Aboriginal Community who have the correct relationship with the child in accordance with Aboriginal customary law

Other Aboriginal families living in close proximity.

This order of priority of placement is to be followed in absence of good cause to the contrary at all times.

This Principle has been accepted by all States at the 1986 Social Welfare Ministers’ Conference.

A commitment was also made to provide resources and administrative support to the Aboriginal community to assist in the implementation of the Placement Principle and to engage in community work.

The Aboriginal Family Support and Care Program operates Statewide and must be involved in assessment, planning and Service Co-ordination for all Aboriginal children on Status.

Adoption Act 1988 (Tas)

Section 24

(1) The Court shall not make an order for the adoption of a child unless the court has received a report in writing on behalf of the Director or the principal officer of an approved agency concerning the proposed adoption and, after considering the report and any other evidence before it, the court is satisfied that -

... (b) the Director or principal officer has given consideration so far as practicable to any wishes expressed by a parent of the child, particularly in relation to the religion, race, or ethnic background of the prospective adoptive parents of the child;