Ngartuitya 家庭小組會議

Ngartuitya Family Group Conference team recognises the protective factors that cultural identity provides.  All families from diverse cultural backgrounds will be provided, wherever possible, an appropriate Ngartuitya Coordinator whose role includes ensuring that the processes of the conference support the family’s cultural identity and encourages pride in culture.

It is of critical importance to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system and Ngartuitya Family Group Conference Service will provide Aboriginal Coordinators wherever possible and appropriate, to ensure services are culturally inclusive, safe and respectful to Aboriginal families living in South Australia.

Families also have the right to choose a cultural representative to attend their Family Group Conference. 

What is Family Group Conferencing?

Family Group Conferencing provides an opportunity for a child or young person and their family to make informed decisions about their own arrangements for the care and protection of the child or young person, and to make voluntary arrangements for their care that are consistent with the priorities outlined in Chapter 2 of the Children and Young Person (Safety) Act 2017  (CYPS Act).  Family Group Conferencing can also be convened to review arrangements and decisions made at a previous conference.

Family Group Conferencing is underpinned by the principles of family led decision making which recognises that:

• Families are experts in their own lives.
• Family involved in a Group Conference broadly includes the children, parents extended family and even significant friends and neighbours to the family who may not actually be blood related. Families have the right to have a cultural representative present at their conference.
• Families, including extended family and communities, have a pivotal role in the care and protection of children and young people
• Empowering families to make informed decisions about what’s best for their children and young people, benefits children and young people, families and communities
• Better outcomes are achieved for children when families and children themselves are involved in decision-making processes, when safe to do so
• Children and young people’s connection to their family and culture is crucial to their wellbeing and development.

家庭小組會議如何運作？

• 對於參加 Ngartuitya 家庭小組會議的家庭，兒童保護部 (DCP) 社工必須向他們充分告知兒童的安全問題，並同意為了最大限度地減少或消除兒童成長的這些風險，全家人的方法可能會奏效。
• DCP 社工將向家庭解釋家庭小組會議的目的，包括誰可以參加會議。參加家庭小組會議是自願的。
• 一旦家庭同意參加，他們就會被轉介到南澳大利亞州關係協會的 Ngartuitya 家庭小組會議服務處，後者將與家庭聯繫討論轉介事宜並為會議做準備。這包括指派一名 Ngartuitya 協調員來支持家庭成員為了孩子的利益而團結起來。
• 準備階段是一個關鍵階段，因為 Ngartuitya 協調員與家庭密切合作，以確保邀請所有能夠為照顧孩子做出積極貢獻的人參加會議。
• Ngartuitya 協調員與兒童或青少年及其家長合作，負責決定誰可以參加家庭小組會議。該決定取決於一個人的參與是否可能對在家庭小組會議期間達成支持兒童福祉的協議做出有用的貢獻。
• Ngartuitya 協調員出席了會議，以促進家庭會議的順利進行。 DCP 社工也將出席。
• 家庭協議需要解決兒童保護部提出的問題。家庭協議必須得到父母/監護人、兒童或青少年（如果在場）和 DCP 社工的同意 在當時的 會議。
• Ngartuitya 協調員的職責是提供家庭小組會議上所做的所有決定的書面記錄。這可以包括有關護理安排、文化支持和聯繫、聯繫安排以及父母/監護人、其他機構和家庭成員要求的任何行動的決定。

Ngartuitya 家庭小組會議團隊渴望聽到您的回饋，我們將聯繫每位參與者以了解他們的經驗，以幫助我們了解哪些方面效果良好以及哪些方面需要做得更好。

For families to participate in an Ngartuitya Family Group Conference (NFGC) they must be fully informed by a Department for Child Protection (DCP) social worker about the safety concerns for the child and agree that to minimise or remove those risks for the child to thrive,  a whole of family approach could work.

Families’ participation in a Family Group Conference is voluntary.

Once the family agrees to participate, they are referred to Ngartuitya Family Group Conference Service at Relationships Australia South Australia who will connect with the family to discuss preparation for the conference. This includes the allocation of a Ngartuitya Coordinator to support members of the family come together for the benefit of the child.

Once the child, parents and all family members have understood the purpose and agree to participate in an NFGC, the Ngartuitya Coordinator will organise a suitable venue and time so that the family can come together to discuss how, as a family, they will work together to support the child.

On the day of the Family Group Conference, the Ngartuitya Coordinator will be present at the venue and family members will attend. Either this can be in person, via video or telephone link or the Ngartuitya Coordinator can provide written contributions from those who cannot attend. The space will be set up to be welcoming and facilitate shared discussion.

1. Introduction to the Ngartuitya Family Group Conference – The first part is sitting together as a family so the Ngartuitya Coordinator can ensure that everyone present, including the DCP  social worker, is aware of the purpose, each person’s role and responsibility and that the child’s safety concerns to be addressed, are clear to everyone present.
2. Family time – This is private time and space for the family to make decisions on what solutions they can provide within their own family and community to address concerns raised. The Ngartuitya Coordinator can provide facilitation assistance if requested by the family. The DCP social worker is not part of the family time
3. Family Agreement (the plan) – The Family Agreement has to say what needs to be done, by who, and when these actions need to be taken to address the safety and wellbeing concerns for the child or young person. All participants, including the DCP social worker – who is required to approve the Family Agreement, must agree to the decisions made, understand their own role and their responsibilities within the timeframes agreed on at the conference. The Ngartuitya Coordinator will ensure that all present receive a copy of the family agreement.

Families will be followed up by the Ngartuitya Coordinator and the DCP social worker within 3 months to see how the Family Agreement is working and to assist with any adjustments. The Ngartuitya Coordinator will check in with the family and may arrange for the family meet again and participate in another conference.

The family is able to request a review if two or more family members who participated in the Family Group Conference believe it is required.

Family involved in a Group Conference will include children, parents, extended family and even significant friends and neighbours to the family (who may not actually be blood related) and can include a cultural representative.

Families, including extended family and communities, have an important role in caring for children and young people, and keeping them safe.