For Child Protection Week 2023, Gangalidda Traditional Owner and Gunawuna Jungai Board Chairman Barry Walden together with Act for Kids released a special documentary: The Story of Dumaji – Kids in Culture.

The documentary is an insightful look into the Dumaji (Doomadgee) community, highlighting the critical importance of First Nations children remaining connected to their culture.

As of June 2022, there were 19,400 Indigenous children in out-of-home care in Australia, 12 times more than non-Indigenous children.

The Kids in Culture story examines the detrimental impact removing an Aboriginal child from their culture can have on their life, including losing their sense of belonging and their cultural identity.

According to Mr Walden, the removal of children tears families apart and those who are lucky enough to return experience the trauma of struggling to reintegrate into their community as they no longer understand the language, cultural lore, or practices.

“Unfortunately, we see a lot of children being removed because the system thinks that they have nowhere to go, no one to stay with. However, in Aboriginal culture a child can be looked after and protected by all structures of the family,” he said.

The documentary also empowers the voices of Aboriginal children who share their incredible connection to country.

Local child Kristin Stacey talked about growing up in Doomadgee and how connecting with country is a time of family bonding and learning cultural practices and traditions.

“It’s beautiful when you go out on country – we go fishing and swimming with our family for food,” she said.

Mr Walden spoke of the importance of encouraging Doomadgee children to connect with their culture through traditional ways.

“It gives them a good sense of belonging – they belong to this country and they’ve got rights to that water,” he said.

“It’s a part of our culture – we have to pass it on.”

Act for Kids has been delivering services in a partnership with First Nations people in Doomadgee since 2008.