Indigenous Impact Weekly
Celebrating Leaders and Changemakers
The remarkable journey of Dr Glenda Kickett tells a story of breaking down barriers and paving a new way forward in the Australian child protection system. As CEO of Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation (Karla Kuliny), an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, Glenda is leading change.
Based on Whadjuk Noongar Country, Glenda is leading with grace and conviction by supporting and improving the lives of First Nations foster children and their foster families. The model of care Karla Kuliny applies has redefined the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are cared for in out-of-home care.
Dr Glenda Kickett
With a professional journey that spans over 20 years across child protection and care, board roles for Aboriginal organisations, university lecturing and research development, Glenda has created systemic change within the community.
Glenda has lived experience, entering the foster care system at a young age. This was a pivotal moment for her family who worked to prevent the removal of vulnerable children in their family line.
This experience fuels Glenda’s drive to change the future for First Nations generations. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are continuously over-represented in the Australian child protection system, being 10.8 times more likely to be in out-of-home care or on a third-party parental responsibility order.
Glenda wants to change this.
Armed with a PhD in Social Work from the University of Western Australia, education has formed the foundation base to address this work. She has also contributed to the 100 Families WA Research Project, changing the way First Nations children are represented and understood systemically.
To end over-representation of First Nations children in the foster care system, Karla Kuliny embeds the research Glenda has developed over her education journey by creating a model that differs from offerings within non-Indigenous organisations.
Their experienced leadership has already made a mark in the First Nations out-of-home care space, by building the identity of the First Nations children through their practice.
“A lot of young people leave care [with] no identity not knowing [where] they come from” she said.
This causes generational damage to First Nations children and families. Connection and relationships to culture, family and Country is key to the operations of Karla Kuliny to build a child’s identity, enabling each child a stronger future.
Karla Kuliny provides new carers with cultural support, empowering Indigenous and non-Indigenous carers with the knowledge and skills to holistically care for First Nations children.
Of the many hats Glenda wears, the most important is her identity as a Whadjuk and Ballardong woman and Elder. The Aboriginal practice of deep listening and going slowly, handed down to Glenda from her mother, is integrated into the methodology of Karla Kuliny.
“You just need to take it slowly, sit back and learn” is the principle Glenda champions.
“What’s really important for our families and children is that connection and relationship to culture and family and country and that’s why I’m passionate about this work”
Karla Kuliny is armed with the tools for success with a strong cultural base, relationships with community and families, and a strong CEO at the helm.
Learn more about Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation here.
Article written by Jessica Moody, Research Advisor at Garlett Group.