Friday, 28 August 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (15:32): (2761) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Children. For more than two decades Djirra has worked on the front line of Aboriginal women’s and children’s safety, demonstrating that deep and relational experience has built specialist expertise and an evidence base about what keeps Aboriginal women and their children safe, what systemic change is needed and what must be built for the future for Aboriginal women and children to really thrive. Throughout the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Aboriginal women came forward with immense courage to speak their truths. They laid bare the devastating and ongoing realities of systemic racism, family violence, criminalisation, incarceration and, heartbreakingly, child removal, which continues to this day. They also spoke about what makes a difference: access to specialist Aboriginal services, including access to specialist legal advice and representation, and places where women and their children are safe, heard and supported. Djirra has been doing this hard work since its inception 22 years ago. Day in, day out they see firsthand how the child protection system blames and punishes Aboriginal mums for the violence perpetrated against them and removes their children. Djirra has advocated for a child protection notification and referral system that would ensure Aboriginal mums are referred to Djirra at the earliest point of child protection involvement. This is reflected in the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s recommendation 12. Minister, given this recommendation from the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the action I seek is: will you commit to implementing a child protection notification and referral system to protect Aboriginal women and their children?