Missing links: Attachment theory and Aboriginal children, families and communities

Tuesday 17 September 12:00-1:00pm AEST, online via MS Teams

Hosted by Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR)

Details

In this webinar, Dr Paul Gray and Ash Wright, the authors of the paper titled: “Attachment and the (mis)apprehension of Aboriginal children: epistemic violence in child welfare interventions” will speak on their thoughts and findings about the misapplication of Western developmental constructs such as attachment theory on Aboriginal children.

Dr Gray and Ms Wright argue that child protection systems in Australia continue to disproportionately investigate Aboriginal families and intervene to remove Aboriginal children. The authors will discuss their paper that makes the case that applying non-Indigenous constructs and understandings of child development contribute to these enduring inequities. Attachment theory is one such prevalent framework with significant applications in child protection. The paper argues that while constructs of attachment have attempted to grapple with diversity, its application in Australian child protection policy and practice reflects dominant socio-cultural perceptions as a foundation for decision making that misrepresents Aboriginal families and their children’s developmental needs.

This webinar will be chaired by Noni Greenwood (Director Aboriginal Culture in Practice, Office of Senior Practitioner, DCJ).

Join us to learn more about:

Attachment and the (mis)apprehension of Aboriginal children: epistemic violence in child welfare interventions

Dr Paul Gray, Wiradjuri man, Leader of the Indigenous child protection hub at the University of Technology Sydney, Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research

Ash Wright, Nunga woman raised Muruwai way, provisional psychologist and PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research

Please note this webinar will be live only and will not be recorded for public viewing. If you are keen to hear this presentation, please join us on September 17th, 2024 at 12pm.

Artist acknowledgment: Wiradjuri artist and Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Fay Clayton Moseley

Questions or comments?
Contact: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au

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