Today, the Children's Guardian has advised she has cancelled the out-of-home care accreditation of Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation, effective immediately.
Narang Bir-rong currently provides foster care and case-management for 103 children and young people in out-of-home care, predominantly in Western Sydney, under the former government's 'Permanency Support Program' contracts issued in 2022. Narang Bir-rong does not provide residential care services.
The immediate priority of the Department of Communities and Justice is the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people involved, and supporting their foster and relative/kinship carers to continue their important roles.
Case-management of all children and young people will be transferred back to the Department in accordance with section 141 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act) 1998. Urgent planning is underway in close consultation with the Public Service Association and the Australian Services Union to ensure an orderly transition, including support for affected staff.
The Office of the Children's Guardian is an independent statutory body with responsibility for accrediting all out-of-home care providers. Under the Minns Labor Government, the use of unaccredited providers has been banned.
In a separate process, and as part of the Minns Labor Government's out-of-home care reforms, Narang Bir-rong was recently notified of the Department's intention to wind-down its contract due to performance issues.
Accountability and transparency is a non-negotiable when it comes to caring for NSW's most vulnerable children.
