‘Aboriginal children make up about 45 per cent of all children in foster care. The Department for Child Protection and Family Support tries to place Aboriginal children within their families and local communities to safeguard their cultural identities. Some for a few weeks, some for a few years – no one really knows how long a child will need care for. The type of fostering also depends on the age of the child, and if they have behavioural difficulties or a disability. Foster children generally keep in touch with their birth parents and family members. Aunty Lesley told me that ‘birth children come from your belly, but foster children come from your heart’. Aunty Lesley has fostered over 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. I remember spending time with Aunty Lesley and the girls. I saw how much love care and attention she gives each one of them. She has allowed the girls to blossom into strong young beautiful women. Aunty Lesley is undoubtedly the girls’ Tribal mum.’
DIETER AND LIAM KNIERIM
KNIERIM BROTHERS PRODUCTIONS
Dieter and Liam Knierim filmed and interviewed all the participants of this project – the results are all a part of the exhibition and are available on DVD. They did this during their final school years. Together, they now have a production company, Knierim Brothers Productions. Dieter studied at Metro Screen, the organisation founded by Uncle Lester Bostock. Dieter is now studying a bachelor of communications at UTS, while Liam is completing his International Baccalaureate specializing in Psychology and Philosophy.
