Sienna is a proud Garawa woman and a Senior Advisor in VACCA’s Cultural Support Planning team, who ensure that children and young people in care stay connected to and strong in their culture.
Through the creation of Cultural Support Plans, the facilitation of Returns to Country and Cultural Camps, Sienna and the team work to make sure children and young people always know where they belong, even if they aren’t able to be placed with family.
Every child in VACCA care has a Cultural Support Plan, a document that lays out how they will be supported to explore and have an ongoing relationship with their culture, history and identity. Advisors like Sienna even work with the children and young people to design their own plans, ensuring they always have a voice. Cultural Support Plans give the young people a sense of belonging and strength in knowing who they are and where they come from as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The plans are living documents, growing and changing just as much as a young person does. They follow them through every step of their journey, whether living with family or in care.
Sienna also works closely with Case Managers to facilitate Returns to Country for the young people in care. On these trips, they can find family, connect to Country, and engage in traditional practices like art, dance and music. In this knowledge they are able to find pride in their identity and strength in knowing who they are and where they come from.
Watch the video to meet Sienna and learn more about Cultural Support Plans at VACCA!
