Yalga Connect

Culturally Appropriate Care and Placements

Yalga Connect was established due to a large proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being placed in out-of-home care compared with non-Indigenous children. We have identified a service gap within the investigation stage of care and the urgent need for culturally appropriate care and placements to accommodate our affected communities.

There is a strong focus on ensuring youth:

remain in the community they have cultural ties with
have access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
have access to safe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community

Our Focus

Yalga Connect focuses on The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles to ensure we find sustainable solutions. The principles are:

Prevention - a child has the right to be brought up within the child’s own family and community.
Participation - a child and the child’s parents and family members have the right to participate in an administrative or judicial process for making a significant decision about a child.
Partnership - Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander peoples have the right to participate in significant decisions under the Child Protection Act 1999 about Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, including the design and delivery of programs and services.
Placement - a child has a right to be placed with a member of the child’s family group if a child is to be placed in care.
Connection - a child has a right to be supported to develop and maintain a connection with the child’s family, community, culture, traditions and language.

We endeavour to achieve these principles by providing:

cultural strategies to support case management
mentoring and positive role modelling
skills development in personal and life skills
linkages to appropriate services and professionals
kin connection and cultural inclusion for family wellbeing.

Programs We Offer

cultural placement support PROGRAM

The Cultural Placement Support Program is a culturally appropriate Intervention Program which targets young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples involved with the Youth Justice System and/or disengaged from formal education and/or engaging in high risk behaviours.

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Testimonials

The camp was mad and heaps of fun learning about my culture and visiting other remote Aboriginal communities.

charlie

16 years

The camp and program was really good and I got to visit places I've never been to before. The Yalga mentors and workers were easy and fun to get along with.

cruz

14 years

This experience has changed the way I look at life. My world was small and now I know what I need to do to have a better life. I'm grateful for meeting the Yalga blokes.

john

16 years

It's really cool for Murri kids to get out there and learn about our culture. As a kid from Kamilaroi I got to learn about my tribe and speak my own language.

adam B.

15 years

I really liked the camp, I liked being outside the house and being active for once. I got to go offroading, see traditional star trees and do cultural activities.

trevor F.

16 years

My culture has always been important to me but now I have a better understanding of myself and thats thanks to Yalga.

KEN s.

17 years

Connecting Through Country and Kinship.

Culturally Appropriate Care and Placements

Our Focus

Programs We Offer

Testimonials