Ep 17: Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts - 'The State Cannot Be a Parent'

In this powerful episode of the Impact Policy Podcast, host Sam Johnson welcomes Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, a staunch advocate for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Vanessa shares profound insights on self-advocacy, systemic trauma, and the need for community-led solutions.
- Vanessa discusses her role as the inaugural commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and stresses the importance of community-driven leadership.
- Explore her critique of family policing and the child removal system which disproportionately affects communities of color.
- Learn about Vanessa's advocacy for non-reformist reforms and abolition of harmful systems rooted in historical violence.
- Discover the significant impact of collective community support and why Vanessa believes empowering communities can prevent unnecessary family separations.
- Vanessa and Sam reflect on their personal experiences with systemic oppression and the importance of empowering individuals through recognition of lived experiences in professional environments.
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Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, empowerment, survivors, child welfare, family policing, abolition, decolonization, racism, trauma-informed care, systemic violence, indigenous rights, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, community care, intergenerational trauma, non-reformist reforms, cultural sovereignty, advocacy, healing.