Indigenous advocate Natalie Brown appointed chair of key oversight committee

Callan Morse Published December 9, 2022 at 9.15am (AWST)

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Natalie Brown (3rd right) pictured with members of the Our Booris, Our Way Steering Committee. Image: ACT Government.

Gamilaraay woman Natalie Brown has been appointed the new Chair of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government's Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee.

Having lived and worked on Ngunnawal country for the past 20 years, Ms Brown is a dedicated advocate for systemic reform to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal families in statutory out of home care.

The Indigenous advocate said she is eager to begin enacting the Our Booris, Our Way recommendations.

"I look forward to continuing the critical work of the Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee and working closely with community as well as the ACT government to implement the recommendations," she said.

ACT Minister for Families and Community Services Rachel Stephen-Smith said Ms Brown is a highly suitable candidate to chair the Oversight Committee.

"Ms Brown has been key in steering the Our Booris, Our Way process and has a strong commitment to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are supported, connected to their community, culture and country," she said.

The Our Booris, Our Way review into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system in the ACT began in 2017, with the oversight committee established in 2020 to monitor the implementation of the reports 29 recommendations and 8 sub-recommendations whilst guiding systemic reform if necessary.

Ms Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government remains committed to implementing the Our Booris, Our Way recommendations to achieve positive outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and their families.

"Real change can only be realised through strong collaboration, transparency, and accountability," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

Ms Brown replaces Barb Causon, who has been appointed as the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Advocate, a role that is a direct result of the Our Booris, Our Way recommendations.

Ms Causon will remain on the committee alongside recently elected Waanyi Kalkadoon woman Charmaine Barratt who has filled the committee position recently vacated by Dr Caroline Hughes.

Our Booris, Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee