The Rev Steve Clarke, Anglicare's Director of Mission and Social Justice, Brendan Moyle from Cummbeyan Aboriginal community organisation and Archdeacon Karen Kime Anglicare's General Manager of Indigenous Services and Education sign the new partnership arrangement.
ARCHDEACON Karen Kime, Anglicare's General Manager for Indigenous Services, and a Birripa woman herself, described it is as 'a truly historic occasion.' They were referring to Anglicare and local Aboriginal community organisation Cummbeyan signing a partnership on Friday to provide out-of-home care* for Aboriginal children in Cooma, Goulburn, Yass and Queanbeyan.
Anglicare and Cummbeyan have developed a special partnership that will better support Aboriginal foster carers and improve the lives of Aboriginal children and young people in care.
As part of this partnership, Anglicare will mentor Cummbeyan towards becoming an independent and accredited out-of-home care provider, while Cummbeyan will provide Anglicare with cultural advice, Aboriginal foster care recruitment and assistance to recruit Aboriginal staff.
"Anglicare is committed to Pru Goward's (Minister for Community Services) vision for Aboriginal children to not only be in the care of Indigenous foster carers, but for those kids to be case managed and nurtured by Indigenous organisations; organisations that are community-based and led, that are robust and that are staffed by appropriately skilled and qualified case managers," Archdeacon Kime said.
She was addressing the gathering which included NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward and AbSec CEO Bill Pritchard for the official partnership signing.
"Anglicare is committed to this vision; to the mentoring and developing of Aboriginal organisations, for we are committed to Reconciliation and we see this, as part of the process," Archdeacon Kime said.
Cummbeyan spokesperson Brendan Moyle said his organisation recognised and supported the provision of high quality and culturally appropriate out-of-home care services.
"Cummbeyan is committed to preserving the Aboriginal community's future by supporting the most vulnerable children within our community. This partnership provides a foundation for Aboriginal people to take the lead in our region in helping vulnerable children, and supporting those who provide out-of-home care to them," he said.
* Out-of-home care includes foster care, kinship care and various types of residential care for children who are unable to live with their family.
