Communities and Justice

September 2024: Missing links - Attachment theory and Aboriginal children, families and communities

Webinar

This webinar was a "live only" event and was not recorded 

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- external sitelaunch” spoke on their thoughts and findings about the misapplication of Western developmental constructs such as attachment theory on Aboriginal children. 

Dr Gray and Ms Wright argued that child protection systems in Australia continue to disproportionately investigate Aboriginal families and intervene to remove Aboriginal children.  The authors discussed 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 was chaired by Noni Greenwood, Director Aboriginal Culture in Practice, Office of Senior Practitioner, DCJ.

Discussion

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 

Additional resources

Published research articles

FACSIAR Lunch and Learn

FACSIAR Publications

Contact

Email: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Last updated:

18 Sep 2024