About SNAICC – National Voice for our Children

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children is the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak body leading systemic and structural reform to protect and advance the rights, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities across Australia.

Our work builds on more than 43 years of community leadership, grounded in over 65,000 years of care, nurture and cultural knowledge. Since 1981, we have worked to advance the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families, and to support the self-determination of communities, ensuring every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential, growing up strong in culture, supported by strong families and thriving within self-determined communities.

As one of the longest-standing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies in the country, SNAICC has played a central role in shaping policy, practice and reform at a national level. Today, SNAICC develops evidence-informed policy, produces national guidelines and advocates for systemic and structural change that delivers real outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, communities and organisations. We work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, governments and non-Indigenous services to strengthen service design, decision-making and accountability.

Throughout our history, we have built strong partnerships across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector and beyond to drive sustained systemic and institutional change, and this work remains as urgent and necessary today as it was at our beginning and it continues to shape the future we are working towards; that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people thrive in culture, are raised within strong families and self-determining communities, and are empowered to reach their full potential.

Our Role

As the national non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led peak body organisation, SNAICC amplifies the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, communities and the community-controlled sector at the national level.

• Our Vision: Grounded in over 65,000 years of care and nurture, our vision is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people thrive in culture, are raised within strong families and self-determined communities, and are empowered to reach their full potential.
• Our Purpose: Our purpose is to engage and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, youth, families, communities and the sector in order to drive progress towards the fulfilment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s rights through culturally led, self-determined and evidence-based approaches, systems and structures that advance the legacy of more than 40 years of SNAICC and our members’ work.
• Our Focus Areas: Reflective of our cultural ways and lore, our focus areas address the holistic needs, rights and aspirations of all children and young people, recognising the central role of family and community.

We do this by:

• strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations through targeted training, resources and workshops,
• translating research and evidence into strong, independent policy advice,
• amplifying the collective voice of our members and advocating for systemic and structural change,
• partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, NGOs and non-Indigenous services to improve service design and delivery,
• influencing national decision-making through committees, forums and advisory roles, and
• building national understanding through initiatives such as National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, Family Matters and the SNAICC National Conference.

From grassroots practice to national policy tables, we work to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people shape the systems that affect their lives and grow up safe, connected to family, community, culture and Country.

Our Members are our Strength

SNAICC represents a national membership of around 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled and community-based organisations, spanning early childhood education and care, family support and reunification, foster care, youth services and community organisations across Australia.

For decades, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations have led the delivery of holistic, culturally strong services for children and families. For millennia before that, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have raised children through deep connection to family, community, Country and culture. We know that when families have access to high-quality, culturally safe supports, and when communities have control over the decisions that shape their lives, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive.

Use the interactive map below to see the reach of our Membership.