SNAICC’s support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, starting from 1981, has resulted in many key milestones and achievements both in policy developments at state, territory and federal levels and in developing innovative and useful resources for the sector.
Some key milestones have been:
| 2016 | SNAICC is registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). At this time, SNAICC also refreshes its brand and name to become known as SNAICC – National Voice for our Children.
SNAICC plays a leadership role in The Redfern Statement during the 2016 federal election process. |
| 2015 | The 5th SNAICC National Conference is held in Perth.
SNAICC makes a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Out-of-Home Care calling for a new self-determining approach to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. |
| 2014 | SNAICC holds a Parliamentary breakfast in Canberra as part of its campaign to secure long-term funding for Indigenous community-controlled early years services.
In partnership with key agencies in the child welfare sector, SNAICC organises major forums and community meetings across Australia under the new national Family Matters campaign to reduce the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in out-of-home care. The Moving To Prevention report is published focussing on Intensive and Targeted Family Support Services. SNAICC’s Training Unit is significantly expanded. |
| 2013 | SNAICC celebrates 30 years as a funded organisation.
Fifth SNAICC National Conference is held in Cairns. Attended by over 1100 delegates, it is considered the biggest forum of its type ever held. SNAICC organises a national forum in Melbourne on the high number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care, and announces the establishment of a national initiative, in partnership with key agencies in the sector, to halve the number by 2018. |
| 2012 | 25th anniversary of National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day.
SNAICC wins Highly Commended Award at the 2012 Indigenous Governance Awards. SNAICC attends Eleventh Session of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, and meeting of UN Committee for the Rights of the Child in Geneva. |
| 2011 | SNAICC was granted Deductible Grant Recipient (DGR) status, allowing SNAICC to seek philanthropic funding and donations. |
| 2010 | SNAICC successfully lobbied for a strong National Standards for Out-of-Home Care, which now require the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in decisions concerning the care and placement of our children. |
| 2010 | SNAICC is a founding member of the NGO lobby group ‘The Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children’ that provides advice to Government on the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s children. |
| 2010 | SNAICC’s work over many previous years and intensive engagement this year were key contributors to securing NT and Federal Government commitments to re-build the NT child case system – offering leadership to our communities with NGO and government partnerships and support. |
| 2010 | Fourth National Conference of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and services (Alice Springs, NT) |
| 2010 | Presiding as Convenor of the Indigenous Sub-Group of the Non-Government Organisations Group for the Rights of the Child |
| 2009 | 35 new (Aboriginal) Child and Family Centres announced in the federal budget |
| 2008 | Consolidation and growth of the SNAICC Resource Service |
| 2008 | SNAICC celebrates 25th anniversary |
| 2008 | The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and NSW Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care Secretariat (Absec) endorse the SNAICC Service Development, Cultural Respect and Service Access Policy (2007) |
| 2007 | Third National Conference of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and services (Adelaide) |
| 2006 | Securing agreement from the Australian Government (through FaCSIA), to develop a National Indigenous Child Care Plan. Following the change in government, key elements were then implemented through COAG framework agreement |
| 2005 | National SNAICC Resource Service funded to develop and distribute many high quality resources to support services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families with $4 million funding from the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, (refunded 2008) |
| 2005 | Producing a policy paper in 2005 to advocate that maintaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s connections to their family, community and culture be considered a priority by state, territory and Australian governments in their policy and practices governing out-of-home care. |
| 2004 | Assisting Queensland AICCAs to secure a major funding boost for Queensland services |
| 2004 | Establishing the SNAICC Resource Service to develop and share resources to support services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, with $4 million funding from the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
| 2003-2004 | Compilation of Early Childhood Case Studies (.pdf 895kb) a report on the operation of the 37 Commonwealth funded Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services (MACS) for the Department of Family and Community Services |
| 2003 | Research and publication of State of Denial – the neglect and abuse of Indigenous children in the Northern Territory |
| 2003 | Responding to inquiries and reform processes such as the child care broadband redevelopment, AICCA program review, and the Senate Inquiry into ATSIC’s abolition |
| 2003 | Convened ‘Our Future Generations: National Indigenous Child Welfare and Development Seminar’ with the Commonwealth, ATSIC, and the Victorian Government |
| 2003 | Membership of the Federal Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Family Violence Taskforce |
| 2002 | Through Young Black Eyes Handbook (updates 2005 & 2007) and Through Young Black Eyes Workshop Kit |
| 2001 | Publication of Through Young Black Eyes, a national resource booklet and community Elders guide responding to issues of family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. |
| 1999 | Securing positive developments in the Queensland, Victorian and Northern Territory Governments’ child protection reforms |
| 1999 | Securing agreement from the Australian Government, through its Department for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), to develop a National Indigenous Child Care Plan |
| 1998-2000 | 1998 & 2000 Representing the rights and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations |
| 1998 | Aboriginal Community Controlled Early Childhood Services (MACS) become full SNAICC members |
| 1997 | June 1997 – Convening the second National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Survival conference (Melbourne) – recommendation that the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle (ACCP) be legislated in every state and territory |
| 1997 | HREOC National Inquiry into the Removal of Aboriginal Children Report recommends that the ACCP be legislated in every state and territory |
| 1996-2007 | Representing children’s interests on government boards, councils and other bodies, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Working Group of the National Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Council, and the National Children’s Services Forum. Continuing membership of successive federal govenment bodies over the Australian Council for Children and Parenting following our participation in the National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse |
| 1996 | Developing the ‘Proposed Plan of Action for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Aboriginal Communities’ |
| 1991 | Production of Through Black Eyes – Family Violence Resource Handbook (.pdf 6mb) |
| 1991 | Being the first national Indigenous organisation to call for an inquiry into the Stolen Generations |
| 1990 | Report on Aboriginal Child Poverty, a partnership between SNAICC and the Brotherhood of St Lawrence, identifies poverty as a key factor in child abuse and neglect |
| 1988 | Development and inauguration of National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day, NAICD, (August 4th each year), as a major annual event celebrated by communities throughout Australia |
| 1983 | Commonwealth Department of Social Security offers SNAICC recurrent funding, to be held by VACCA |
| 1981 | SNAICC Conference Statement of Purpose formulated |
| 1981-Present | Development of SNAICC policy papers, statements, action plans and priorities to guide the development of policies and programs by government and the non-government sector, securing positive developments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families |
| 1979 | The first Aboriginal Child Survival Seminar (VACCA – Melbourne). Recommendation 17: ‘That a National Committee of Aboriginal Child Care Groups be established as a forum for consultation and coordination’ |
