Out-of-home care for Indigenous children to be all Aboriginal-controlled

Aboriginal-controlled organisations “have greater successes in reunifying [Indigenous] children with family, because they are an intrinsic part of community”, said Catherine Liddle, chief executive of Snaicc – National Voice for Our Children. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

Australia’s child protection system will be transformed with a commitment from the nation’s major child and family care organisations to let Aboriginal community controlled organisations (Accos) take the lead with Indigenous children in out-of-home care.

The historic step commits founding members of Allies for Children, an umbrella organisation which includes Act for Kids, Barnardos Australia, Life Without Barriers, OzChild, Mackillop Family Services, Key Assets and the Benevolent Society, to reunifying Indigenous children with Accos and community.