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'Our babies are our gold': The experiences of Aboriginal kinship carers in Western Australia.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	'Our babies are our gold': The experiences of Aboriginal kinship carers in Western Australia.
Authors:	Jones, Jocelyn¹ (AUTHOR) jocelyn.jones@ecu.edu.au, Moodie, Sasha¹ (AUTHOR), Chenhall, Richard² (AUTHOR), Brook, Juliet¹ (AUTHOR), Williams, Robyn³ (AUTHOR), Davis, Katiska⁴ (AUTHOR), Garlett, Cathy⁴ (AUTHOR), Gibberd, Alison⁴ (AUTHOR), Banks, Emily⁵ (AUTHOR), Harrap, Benjamin⁶ (AUTHOR), O'Donnell, Melissa⁷ (AUTHOR), McNamara, Bridgette^8,9 (AUTHOR), Eades, Sandra⁴ (AUTHOR)
Source:	Children & Youth Services Review. Apr2026, Vol. 183, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms:	Child welfare, Cultural identity, Qualitative research, Group identity, Family roles, Experience, Attitude (Psychology), Psychology of caregivers, Caring, Responsibility, Descriptive statistics, Psychological well-being, Financial stress, Psychological stress, Indigenous Australians, Transcultural medical care
Geographic Terms:	Western Australia
Abstract:	• Aboriginal kinship carers often felt undervalued and unsupported within the child protection system. • Many carers experienced both fulfillment in their role and significant strain affecting their health and wellbeing.. • Cultural obligations and fear of child protection services shaped decisions about care arrangements. • Financial stress and reduced capacity to work or study were common. • Findings underscore the need for flexible, culturally safe, and responsive support systems. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers are crucial to keeping Aboriginal children connected to their cultural identity and community, particularly in the face of high, increasing and disproportionate out-of-home care for Aboriginal Children. Despite this, little is known about their lived experiences and interactions with the Australian child protection system. Led by Indigenous researchers and methodologies, qualitative findings from yarning sessions with 46 kinship carers across Western Australia informed this research. This research is part of the Indigenous Child Removals WA (I-CaRe WA) project. Kinship carers considered their role beneficial for their own emotional and social wellbeing. Managing kinship caring responsibilities and financial insecurity made it difficult to prioritise personal health. Kinship carers reported the importance of cultural responsibility and maintaining children's cultural connection as reasons for becoming carers. Several participants reported feeling unsafe asking for help with caregiving in their interactions with child protection services. Priority areas for system improvement included better access to financial and practical support for both formal and informal kinship carers. Urgent reform to account for the needs of Aboriginal kinship carers is required so that they can thrive in their roles and continue providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	• Aboriginal kinship carers often felt undervalued and unsupported within the child protection system. • Many carers experienced both fulfillment in their role and significant strain affecting their health and wellbeing.. • Cultural obligations and fear of child protection services shaped decisions about care arrangements. • Financial stress and reduced capacity to work or study were common. • Findings underscore the need for flexible, culturally safe, and responsive support systems. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship carers are crucial to keeping Aboriginal children connected to their cultural identity and community, particularly in the face of high, increasing and disproportionate out-of-home care for Aboriginal Children. Despite this, little is known about their lived experiences and interactions with the Australian child protection system. Led by Indigenous researchers and methodologies, qualitative findings from yarning sessions with 46 kinship carers across Western Australia informed this research. This research is part of the Indigenous Child Removals WA (I-CaRe WA) project. Kinship carers considered their role beneficial for their own emotional and social wellbeing. Managing kinship caring responsibilities and financial insecurity made it difficult to prioritise personal health. Kinship carers reported the importance of cultural responsibility and maintaining children's cultural connection as reasons for becoming carers. Several participants reported feeling unsafe asking for help with caregiving in their interactions with child protection services. Priority areas for system improvement included better access to financial and practical support for both formal and informal kinship carers. Urgent reform to account for the needs of Aboriginal kinship carers is required so that they can thrive in their roles and continue providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	01907409
DOI:	10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108827