Policy
More funding for ACCO child protection sector and services in WA
Freya Lucas
Sep 15, 2023
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Western Australia’s Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton has announced additional support for 11 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to support, strengthen and build their capacity to deliver future Aboriginal Representative Organisations (AROs) services in their local community.
Ms Winton made the announcement during Child Protection Week. The grants will support the state-wide establishment of AROs as part of a suite of reforms underway to enable and support child protection processes and decisions that are culturally informed and safe for Aboriginal people.Last year, Yorganop Association, and Aarnja Ltd were awarded State Government funding totalling more than $1.3 million, to deliver the AROs Pilot in their respective locations, with the new locations to build on the learnings from the pilot.
The activities funded through the grants program align with the Department of Communities Aboriginal Community Controlled Strategy 2022-2032, and will support ACCOs to build capacity and participate in other child protection procurement processes.
"Cultural safety within the child protection system is extremely important for the long-term wellbeing of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care,” Ms Winton said.
Ms Winton also travelled to Geraldton during Child Protection Week to announce that ACCOs Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporation (Streeties) has been appointed to deliver the Home Stretch WA program in the Midwest and Gascoyne regions.
"Appointing ACCOs like Streeties, to deliver Home Stretch WA and Aboriginal Representative Organisations in our regions, improves opportunities for Aboriginal children, young people and families through the delivery of localised services,” the Minister added.
The $37.2 million program extends support to young people leaving out of home care until the age of 21, assisting them as they move towards independence.
Since its inception, Home Stretch WA has supported more than 170 young people and continues to be rolled out across the state.
The program also supports carers of the young people who continue living with them, with financial payments to cover expenses such as food, accommodation, and utilities.
More information about the AROs Pilot can be found here.
For more information on Home Stretch WA, please see here.
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