Communities of Practice: Working with Aboriginal Children and Families

This Communities of Practice provides a reflective, conversational space for practitioners to deepen their practice when working alongside Aboriginal children, families and communities. Rather than a structured training session, this CoP draws on shared wisdom, group discussion and real practice experiences to explore what culturally responsive, relational work looks like in everyday casework. Together, participants will yarn about navigating the diversity of Aboriginal families, kinship systems and community dynamics, understanding how history, trauma, strengths and cultural obligations shape family experiences today, building trust, showing respect and working in ways that honour cultural authority, partnering with families, extended kin and community to strengthen identity, belonging and connection, and practice dilemmas and challenges and how to approach them with humility, curiosity and cultural safety. This session is grounded in reflective dialogue rather than instruction and supports practitioners to learn with and from each other while strengthening culturally strong practice across PSP.