SNAICC Strategic Plan 2025–2028

Our Story of Change

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we are the first storytellers; our stories bring to life our past, connect us to a point in time and open up ways of thinking and deep meaning.

The SNAICC Strategic Plan 2025–2028 is our story of change. It speaks to our shared vision and aspirations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, carrying forward the legacy of our communities and leaders who have carved the path on which we walk. This Strategic Plan sets out the core components of our story of change; a map that reflects shifts in our landscape and the continued growth of SNAICC as the national voice for our children.

For more than 43 years, SNAICC’s role as the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children has been shaped by community leadership and self-determination. 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 identity, wellbeing, safety, development and connection to culture.

The principles of community control and self-determination are at the heart of our work. These principles remain essential to achieving lasting and meaningful improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.

Since the signing of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in July 2020, SNAICC and our members have experienced significant growth and an increasing demand for our expertise, knowledge and leadership. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap, and particularly the Priority Reforms, underpin our strategic focus and guide our work across systems and sectors. While the landscape in which we operate continues to shift and change, our purpose remains as urgent and relevant as ever. We exist to engage and amplify the voices of children, young people, families, communities and members, driving progress towards the fulfilment of children’s rights through culturally led, self-determined and evidence-based approaches, systems and structures.

The SNAICC Strategic Plan 2025–2028 sets out our vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and the strategic steps we will take over the next three years to achieve it. It is our birthright that our children and young people are thriving in culture, raised within strong families and self-determining communities, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Strategic Plan 2025–2028

Our Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priority One: Strong national voice driving action on systems and structural change

For change to occur at the community level, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices must be front and centre in decisions that affect us. This means shifting decision-making power back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, being active changemakers within systems and structures that are failing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and being strong partners who hold all parties accountable for better outcomes. Through this priority, SNAICC will drive the implementation of systemic and structural change that advances the development, education, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through leadership, partnerships, advocacy and accountability.

Supporting National Agreement on Closing the Gap – Priority Reforms 1 and 3.

Strategic Priority Two: Building a further strengthened community-controlled sector

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations are a powerful expression of self-determination. Their expertise and capability are critical to delivering holistic, wraparound supports for children and families. Strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector and ensuring it has the decision-making power and resources needed to deliver for our people, is essential to progress. Under this priority, SNAICC will enable sector growth, strengthening and sustainability from the national to the community level, to build the sector of the future.

Supporting National Agreement on Closing the Gap – Priority Reform 2.

Strategic Priority Three: Leading knowledge, evidence and data practices

As storytellers and knowledge holders, we continue rich practices of sharing wisdom and passing on lessons grounded in culture and excellence in caring for and nurturing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This knowledge sharing supports changes in policy, systems, ways of working and understanding that better reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, doing and being. Through this priority, SNAICC will provide leadership in knowledge, evidence and data to support transformative action founded in cultural strength, excellence and data sovereignty.

Supporting National Agreement on Closing the Gap – Priority Reform 4.

Strategic Plan 2025–2028 Animation Video

About the Artist & Artwork

Tovani Cox is a proud Bunuba, Gija, Karajarri, Yawuru, and Miriwoong woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Born in Broome, Tovani is passionate about art and design and often her inspiration is from her long standing commitment to self-determination and rights of first nations people and communities. She was predominantly raised in Noongar country in Perth, and since early 2017 has been living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri country, and travels home to the Kimberley as often as she can to connect with kin and country.

Marulu

Marulu is a Bunuba word. It means precious, worth nurturing. Every child is precious, and each child deserves to be loved, nurtured, supported, and safe.

As the national peak SNAICC continues to pursue and strive for a society where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s voices and needs are prioritised in a community, program, and policy setting.

SNAICC is represented as the main circle image in this piece. The inner circle images are the core business and work of SNAICC through its people, both its workers and the governing board. The outer layer images represent the various existing State and Territory Peaks and lead organisations.

The flow of this piece speaks about our journey, ensuring that our children are loved, nurtured, supported and safe, and they are represented by the small dots. The larger circles and dots are representative of the various programs, policies, and reform priorities that SNAICC works with or is leading as their role as the national peak and voice for our children.

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