A new vision for the broken child protection system in NSW has underlined the need to build "love and hope for children" and "trust with families".
The report, released on Wednesday by the James Martin Institute for Public Policy, said "deeply ingrained mindsets and practices" were hampering reform in the sector.
"The system is currently oriented towards mitigating risks, rather than creating opportunities for change," the report said.
It was too focused on "addressing crises rather than preventing them".
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that 18,493 kids from the Hunter-Central Coast were named in ROSH (risk of significant harm) reports in a year.
Common concerns in those reports were physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, risky behaviour and domestic violence.
More than 2800 kids had been removed from their families and were living in out-of-home care across the Hunter-Central Coast.
The report said the system's forensic roots lend themselves to "an investigative, punitive and risk-focused culture based on a system-driven definition of safety".
"A highly individualised concept of child safety and wellbeing fails to view family and community relationships as a strength."
First Nations children and families were "over-represented in child and family services".
The report highlighted the importance of positive relationships in childhood, as "building blocks that set children up" to continue this pattern through their lives.
"Importantly, the quality of relationships cannot be replaced by therapeutic interventions," it said.
"Consistent, safe, everyday relationships with adults in a child's life - such as parents, carers and teachers - are essential."
These factors were key for abused and neglected children to "move on from hypervigilance and begin healing".
Libby Hackett, the institute's chief executive, said the report was based on "what we know can change lives".
"This is not about tweaking our current system," Ms Hackett said.
"It's about re-imagining the entire sector, based on the most up-to-date understanding of trauma, neuroscience and lived experiences."
NSW Minister for Families and Communities, the Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, welcomed the report - which made 11 policy suggestions to change the system.
"For our reforms to succeed, we must ensure that vulnerable children know that there's always someone in their corner who will back them every day," Ms Washington said.
"To fix the broken child protection system in NSW, we must do things differently."
The report followed reform efforts from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to "support families to stay together where possible".
The department aimed to ensure children "live in safe, stable and nurturing homes".
It also urged child protection caseworkers to "make active efforts to prevent children entering out-of-home care".
For children who must be removed, it sought "active efforts to restore them to their family".
It aimed to move children from "high-cost emergency arrangements, such as hotels, motels and caravan parks, to more suitable options".
The report said four major shifts were needed for "transformative change" in the sector.
These were: walking alongside families and creating love and hope for children; putting time and energy into this; reframing risk; and measuring how families feel about the system.
The report, titled "Supporting Children and Families to Flourish", was expected to inform "imminent reforms" that "put people first and build their capabilities".
The institute is a joint-venture between government and universities.
