Submissions Library

This submission details a family’s experience of failures and injustice within the child protection system.

Lily Woodward’s submisison describes the abuse and challenges she faced as a child in the child protection system and her subsequent experiences of having her own children removed.

Anita Mobourne is a Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, and Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk woman.

This submission is a transcript of Anita talking about her family’s experiences, her working life and the importance of connection, culture and identity.

Thomas Marks is a Wotjobaluk/Gunaikurnai man.

In this video submission, originally produced for the Disability Royal Commission, Thomas decribes the lifelong impact of being part of the Stolen Generations.

Denise Sweet is a Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr woman currently on Wergaia country.

This submission is a transcript of Denise Sweet recounting her family’s experiences of injustice since colonisation.

This submission is from a a Barkindji/ Yorta Yorta/ Wiradjuri/ Mutti Mutti woman.

It details her experience in the foster care system, which led to trauma, drugs and alcohol, and their subsequent positive experince and sobriety through Bunjilwarra.

Charmaine Sellings lives in Lake Tyres and works at the Lake Tyres Aboriginal Trust. Her grandfather was stolen generation from Healesville but was raised by Elders at the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, and her Grandmother was a Kurnai woman and born at the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust.

This submission describes the impact of ongoing racism, child removal and intergenerational trauma. It make suggestions for change including an increase in funding and respect.

This submission is about the author’s experience as a child in out of home care and their interactions with DHS as they grew up. It also their describes their subsequent treatment by DHS as a parent.

This submission details JR’s experience as a victim of ongoing family violence by their ex-partner. It focuses on JR’s interactions with child protection services and instances of false reporting against their current partner who is an Aboriginal man.

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is the Peak voice for Aboriginal children in Victoria.

This submission looks at: Aboriginal family violence in Victoria; the Victorian Government’s family violence reform agenda; the child protection system’s response to family violence; family violence service delivery; policing and legislative responses to family violence; MARAM and VACCA’s leadership in embedding a cultural lens; consistency across jurisdictions; the implementation of international treaties and declarations; the intersection of family violence and homelessness; and reform priorities.