Aboriginal children and families will soon benefit from greater access to Aboriginal Family Preservation, a new model of intensive support for Aboriginal families.
The Minns Labor Government is investing a record $350 million over five years in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver evidence-based support to reduce risks to children and keep families safely together.
Family Preservation services offer intensive support to families in an effort to prevent children from entering foster care by strengthening families, building parenting skills and creating safe home environments.
This new program was developed in partnership with AbSec and co-designed with Aboriginal families, communities, and ACCOs. The eight-week tender process was also supported by AbSec, who were funded to provide access to specialist tender-writing support to 35 established, emerging, and new ACCOs, reflecting strong interest and engagement across the sector.
These reforms are part of the NSW Government's commitment to Closing the Gap on the over-representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
The Minns Labor Government is delivering historic long-term support to ACCOs, reflecting the strengths, knowledge and connection of Aboriginal communities, and investing in the future of Aboriginal-led service delivery in NSW.
Tender outcomes will be announced in March, with new contracts commencing on 1 July 2026.
The Minns Labor Government's broader Family Preservation reform is backed by a $900 million investment over five years, including the historic 40% dedicated to ACCO service delivery. The government's reforms aim to improve the quality of intensive supports available to families at risk of child protection intervention, and for the first time in NSW, will allocate family preservation packages to areas based on need.
Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington said:
"This investment is about providing high-quality, culturally appropriate supports for Aboriginal families to stay safely together. It's designed to drive self-determination by empowering Aboriginal communities to support Aboriginal families.
"For the first time in NSW history, we are delivering funding to Aboriginal community organisations that matches the shocking level of over-representation we are all working hard to address.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:
"The Minns Labor Government is delivering record investment to support Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations to help deliver positive outcomes for Aboriginal families and communities.
"Our investment is about supporting the long-term sustainability of the Aboriginal community services sector and turning Closing the Gap commitments into action to improve lives."
AbSec CEO, John Leha, said:
"This is an important step forward - a sign that policy is beginning to translate into real action. Aligning with the Priority Reforms under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, this framework signals a stronger role for ACCOs in designing and delivering effective and culturally responsive supports for our people.
"AbSec recognises how important it is that ACCOs are well-equipped and positioned to lead this work, and this is central to our mission. This work is about self-determination in practice - Aboriginal communities shaping the services that affect their children and families. That's how change is sustained, across communities and across generations."
