Public hearing 16: First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care

This hearing focused on the experiences of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care. It was held online and streamed live on our website. It was the second public hearing of the Royal Commission specifically examining the experiences of First Nations people with disability.

The scope and the purpose of this hearing was to inquire into:

• experiences of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care

• policy and practices of child protection departments in identifying and diagnosing disability of First Nations children in out-of-home care, including health checks and disability assessments

• access to supports and services by First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care, including the NDIS

• access to supports and services by carers of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care

• policies and practices with respect to secure care environments and the potential for adverse outcomes for First Nations children with disability in these settings

• patterns and trends in the representation and placement of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care, including whether these children are more likely to be placed in particular out-of-home care settings

• data on the representation and experiences of First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care

• negative outcomes for First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care, including care-criminalisation

• solutions to address systemic problems experienced by First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care.