Culturally respectful leadership

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Indigenous peoples in Canada and Australia within the context of child welfare. The chapter draws on the contributions of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) in Australia and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society in Canada to discuss the context of Indigenous child welfare and explore common challenges faced and contributions made to Indigenous child welfare. First, the chapter articulates the problems, namely the Western-centric approach to Indigenous child welfare, and presents alternative approaches. Interviews with two leaders from VACCA, one Aboriginal and one non-Aboriginal, were conducted, and the thematic analysis of these interviews forms the basis of a section unpacking how culturally respectful leadership can be put into practice. Finally, the chapter examines the role of advocacy and leadership in Indigenous Child and Family Practice.