Supporting strong, healthy, self-determining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children connected to family and culture requires the transformation of Australia’s child protection systems.
SNAICC supports an early intervention approach that addresses the economic, social and community-level factors that impact the safety and wellbeing of our children. We have a holistic view of child well-being that includes safety, health, culture and connections, mental health and well-being, home and environment, learning and skills, empowerment and economic well-being.
Through its policy and research work, SNAICC actively advocates for the full implementation of all five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP). The Principle recognises the importance of connection to family, community, culture and country in child and family welfare policy, legislation and practice. In addition to embedding the Principle within all of our work, SNAICC engages with our members, and states and territories to improve understanding and application of the Principle in child welfare legislation, policy and practice.
SNAICC regularly contributes to legislative reform processes, produces high-quality policy and research papers on key aspects of child safety and well-being, and works in collaboration with governments and our members to develop, implement, and monitor and evaluate evidence-based approaches to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Our priorities
- Governments across Australia, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, implement a National Children’s Strategy to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection systems.
- There are dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and Young People commissioners at the national level and in every jurisdiction to ensure whole of system oversight and reform.
- Through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group, we are leading child safety and wellbeing policy reforms under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009 – 2020, which, which includes a priority focus on full compliance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
Successor plan for protecting Australia’s children
SNAICC is currently undertaking consultations to inform the development of the successor plan for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
COVID-19
SNAICC brief on COVID-19 – child protection
Doing It Our Way – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention programs
These profiles demonstrate how community-controlled organisations are achieving positive results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families, including supporting these children to be kept safe from harm, uphold their right to grow up within their own family and community, and access critical health and early education services.
Campaign news
Support our letter to the WA Government calling for important changes to child protection legislation
Policy resources
SNAICC Stronger ACCOs, Stronger Families report 2022
SNAICC Stronger ACCOs, Stronger Families report findings table 2022
April 2023
Reviewing implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle 2020
March 2021
Reviewing implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle 2019
January 2020
Understanding and Applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle
July 2017
Achieving stability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care
April 2018
Analysis of the alignment of draft Closing the Gap Targets with SNAICC positions and priorities
Jan 2019
Whose Voice Counts?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in child protection decision-making
March 2016