New trial project aims to reduce the number of First Nations children in out of home care 

The Federal Government is supporting a trial project to help prevent First Nations children from entering the child protection system and restore First Nations families in inner Sydney.

The $1.39 million trial will assist Aboriginal families with children at risk of serious harm or in out of home care, and support children to stay connected with their family, community and culture.

Funded through the Closing the Gap Outcomes and Evidence Fund, La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council will deliver the trial project within their Stronger Families Service Model, a case management social and emotion well-being program. 

The project was selected through an assessment of proposals facilitated by Inner Sydney Empowered Communities (ISEC), an alliance of Aboriginal service organisations within the Redfern and La Perouse areas of Sydney.

One of the Fund’s aims, Federal Minister Social Services Amanda Rishworth said, is to test new projects to help local communities reduce their incidence of family violence and out of home care. 

“First Nations children are almost 12 times more likely to be in out-of-home care or connected to the child protection system, and our Government is determined to see this rate reduced,” Minister Rishworth said.

“This trial will see the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council work with local families who are at risk of having a child enter the child protection system, as well as families where the goal is reunification.”

“All children deserve to be raised in an environment free of abuse and neglect, and this trial will see at-risk children and their families get the support they need to grow up safe and connected.”

Member for Kingsford-Smith Matt Thistlethwaite said the trial project built on the strength of the local community.

“The La Perouse community has a proud history of strength and resilience, deeply rooted in its cultural heritage,” he added.

“This trial project builds on that foundation by providing practical support to families at risk and helping maintain vital connections to culture and community.”

The new Sydney trial aims to contribute to Target 12 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap which aims to reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031.

More information about the Fund is available on the Department of Social Services website.