What GMAR Victoria does
GMAR Victoria was established in recognition of the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. We work in a voluntary capacity, usually alongside service providers – such as the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, local mainstream Family Services, maternity services, and Aboriginal Family-led Decision-Making practitioners.
Our volunteers understand firsthand the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal families and seek to mitigate these in order to keep families together. We do this by working collaboratively and sensitively with families, to identify ways to address issues of shared concern. Often, we act as a bridge between a family and services, facilitating a compassionate and more culturally safe response to their individual context.
Our role extends beyond facilitating relationships between families and service providers. We can also provide very hands-on, practical support, such as shopping, meal preparation, and in-home supervision and monitoring. We have some (albeit limited) capacity to assist families materially, and can provide culturally appropriate parenting advice and mentoring.
Who GMAR Victoria supports
We stand ready to offer support to families, regardless of who starts the process. Some families contact us directly, but we also welcome referrals from individual health and legal practitioners and from agencies. We can also support mothers and fathers who are in prisons or on remand.
While GMAR Victoria started to support Aboriginal families, we are committed to preventing the need for any child to be removed from their family. As such, we can provide support to non-Aboriginal families, if they request it.
Advice and secondary consultations for professionals
GMAR Victoria supports and advocates for families at risk of separation, within the framework of the Aboriginal Child Placement Principles. We welcome opportunities to speak with professionals about how best to mobilise and coordinate family support.
We can also advise magistrates and court staff about Aboriginal Lore and culture, especially as it pertains to parental and community responsibilities for children.
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We believe it is imperative to stand together to find ways to bring our children home – to avoid a modern continuation of the trauma caused by the Stolen Generations, and to provide children with the security of family and community. We encourage you to contact us to discuss ways that we can help families.
