‘People don't trust those pieces of paper that are provided’: A qualitative study of cultural planning and outsourced out-of-home care services in Western Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be removed at high rates from their families by child protection services, placing them at elevated risk of adverse long-term life outcomes. Cultural connection in out-of-home care is essential for mitigating the impacts of trauma from removal, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that cultural planning is rigorously undertaken. This article explores the provision of cultural plans in an era where out-of-home care services are outsourced by government, but where government holds onto the responsibility for developing cultural plans for children in care. We examine the views of out-of-home care agency workers and non-Indigenous foster carers about receiving cultural information for children in their care. The findings suggest that government has failed to provide leadership and guidance or be responsive, and reveal a shift in the missions of non-governmental organizations and their commitment to providing culturally secure services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.