Our babies are our gold: The experiences of Aboriginal kinship carers in Western Australia
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Sasha Moodie: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3290-4015
Abstract
Background: 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.Methods: 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.Results: 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.Conclusion: 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.
Keywords
Aboriginal kinship care, child protection, cultural connection, Indigenous families, caregiving experiences, Western Australia
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
4-1-2026
Volume
183
Publication Title
Children and Youth Services Review
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Maladjiny Research Centre / Kurongkurl Katitjin
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
Grant Number
NHMRC Numbers : 1162968, 1136128
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
Jones, J., Moodie, S., Chenhall, R., Brook, J., Williams, R., Davis, K., Garlett, C., Gibberd, A., Banks, E., Harrap, B., O’Donnell, M., McNamara, B., & Eades, S. (2026). ‘Our babies are our gold’: The experiences of Aboriginal kinship carers in Western Australia. Children and Youth Services Review, 183, 108827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108827