SNAICC in the News

27 June – 3 July 2026

The National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People’s independent statutory powers came into effect, delivering on more than three decades of advocacy by SNAICC and the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.

SNAICC’s warnings about Northern Territory Government’s Every Child Matters Bill have reached a new audience, with the Katherine Times reporting on how the legislative change will make children in the Territory less safe.

With National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day approaching on 4 August, services across the country are being encouraged to start planning their celebrations of Living Our Truth.

And SNAICC urges the Australian Government that for the Thriving Kids initiative to work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it must be designed and delivered in genuine partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

Here is a look at where the conversation has been, 27 June – 3 July 2026.

National Commissioner’s Powers Take Effect After Three Decades of Advocacy

The National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People’s independent statutory powers took effect this week, as National Indigenous Times reported, a milestone more than three decades of advocacy by SNAICC and the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector in the making.

Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, now leads an office designed to operate independently of government, with the power to compel evidence from state and territory governments.

Earlier in the year, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle spoke with the National Indigenous Times:

“Two years after the announcement of the role, this legislation ensures our children now have a fearless advocate who can act independently, with the authority of the law behind her.”

“A true accountability mechanism to ensure governments follow through on their commitments to our children and families.”

Earlier this year SNAICC’s CEO Catherine Liddle reflected on the significance of the legislation saying:

“This is a moment we have fought for over many years.”

“For decades, SNAICC and our partners have advocated for a National Commissioner with real powers. Someone who can stand independent of government and hold systems to account for the outcomes experienced by our children.”

SNAICC looks forward to working with Commissioner Hunter as she uses these new powers to hold governments to account for our children.

NT’s Reforms Will Make Children Less Safe, Not More

The Katherine Times reported on SNAICC’s warning about the dangerous Every Child Matters Bill in the NT.

The Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026 would broaden government power to intervene in family life based on wellbeing criteria, including school attendance and antisocial behaviour, rather than imminent risk of harm alone.

That risks unnecessary government intervention in the lives of all families across the NT.

Alongside sector leaders, SNAICC strongly opposes the Bill.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said:

“Everyone wants children to be safe. That must be the starting point for this conversation.”

“But despite its stated intent, we do not believe this bill will make children safer. We believe it will exacerbate existing weaknesses in the system and ultimately place more children at risk.”

The debate around the Bill has also created harmful misunderstandings about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, which exists to protect children.

“To suggest the principle puts culture ahead of safety is simply wrong. The principle is a child safety framework which recognises that an Aboriginal child’s safety and wellbeing are strengthened through connection to family, kinship systems, community, culture and Country.”

“Recent data from the Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner showed one in three children in care experienced harm, and in more than a quarter of those cases the harm was inflicted by a carer.”

“The answer to these failures is not to weaken protections. It is to fix the system.”

This advocacy sits alongside our ongoing Northern Territory Child and Family Sector Strengthening Reform Project, building a stronger, community-led system for our children in the Territory.

Thriving Kids Must Be Built with Aboriginal Communities to Succeed

SNAICC has welcomed the Federal Government’s proposed Thriving Kids initiative as a significant opportunity to improve developmental and disability support for our children, as The Sector reported, while warning the reform will only succeed if Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are genuine partners in its design and delivery.

The call accompanies the release of our Thriving Kids policy paper, which argues reforms must build on the strengths of existing Aboriginal-led services rather than creating parallel systems that risk further fragmenting support for families.

Thriving Kids is intended to improve access to developmental supports by identifying children earlier and connecting families with services before challenges become more complex.

Approximately one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience developmental delay, yet our families continue to face barriers accessing services that are culturally safe and responsive.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said:

“Thriving Kids has the potential to transform how children access developmental and disability support, shifting away from crisis-driven responses and ensuring families get help earlier.”

Our ACCO-led early childhood education and care services already provide integrated support for health, family wellbeing and early intervention, enabling developmental concerns to be identified and addressed before children reach school.

“Our ACCO-led early childhood education and care services are already delivering the culturally strong, holistic support that children and families need, making them perfectly placed to be partners in the design and delivery of Thriving Kids.”

“For this initiative to work for our children and families it must be built on the strengths of the services they rely on and trust. Our ECEC organisations must be recognised as partners, not just stakeholders.”

We have also urged the Government to provide greater clarity about how Thriving Kids will operate alongside broader disability reforms, particularly changes affecting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), so no child loses support during the transition.

“We’ve seen too many reforms promise better outcomes without addressing the practical realities for our children and families.”

“The Government must be clear about how Thriving Kids will connect with existing systems and how it will guarantee continuity of support for every child who needs it.”

Lasting change for our children depends on Thriving Kids being built with Aboriginal communities, not around them.

Living Our Truth: Children’s Day 2026 Builds Toward 4 August

Early childhood education and care services across the country are being encouraged to start planning their celebrations for Children’s Day, as The Sector reported on this year’s theme, Living Our Truth.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day recognises the strength, resilience and cultural identity of our children, and the families, communities and Elders who raise them.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of truth-telling as a foundation for identity, belonging and cultural strength, celebrating our children as emerging leaders.

The much-anticipated Children’s Day Bags are now on sale. Every 2026 Children’s Day Bag will include The Moon Story, a bilingual Kriol and English picture book written by Marshia Cook and illustrated by her son Tamua Nuggett.

The book follows a family from Fitzroy Crossing camping on Country and received the 2025 Karajia Award for Children’s Literature.

Writer, podcaster and television presenter Marlee Silva, a proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman, is this year’s Children’s Day Ambassador.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said:

“Marlee lives healing through truth-telling in her work sharing stories of strength and success about our communities, families and children through her documentaries, books, podcast and in the media.”

“Our truth is that our children are deeply loved. Our truth is that our children are thriving in culture. Our truth is that our children are celebrated for their cultural identity and by their communities that help to raise them.”

We invite services, schools and communities across the country to plan locally led celebrations and join us on 4 August.