South Australia's Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People says First Nations children's rights are being "trampled on" by what she describes as an "institutionally racist" child protection system.
In a report tabled in SA parliament on Wednesday, Commissioner April Lawrie found that in a single calendar year, one-in-two South Australian Aboriginal children are reported at least once to child protection authorities, and one-in-ten are placed in out-of-home care. The report has made 48 findings and 32 recommendations to reduce the number of First Nations children in the child protection system.
"The state is unnecessarily removing disproportionate and growing numbers of Aboriginal children from their families and communities, causing long-term harm to their health, wellbeing and life chances," Ms Lawrie said.