Wakwakurna Kanyini – for South Australian Aboriginal children and families
Wakwakurna Kanyini was established after decades of advocacy from local Aboriginal leaders for an Aboriginal peak body to bring the community voice into the child protection and family support services sector to ensure and maintain a priority on improving outcomes for children.
Wakwakurna Kanyini was formed through a statewide community-led design process and the leadership of an establishment steering committee involving local Aboriginal representatives from across the South Australian child and family services sector and Aboriginal community, with support from SNAICC – National Voice for our Children.
Wakwakurna is Kaurna language for children, while Kanyini is a Pitjantjatjara word with a complex meaning that loosely translates to interconnectedness, nurturing, holding and support for family, country and community.
Wakwakurna Kanyini is the name chosen to reflect the peak’s advocacy for the Aboriginal community to hold dearly to its children due to the alarming rates of removals and how family and culture safeguard against the harms of removal.
As a peak body, the organisation will provide leadership on representing community-led priorities to the state government for improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and families and building the capacity of the Aboriginal community-controlled sector to provide services to Aboriginal families in need.
The vision for Wakwakurna Kanyini is for Aboriginal children to flourish with culture as proud and confident members of the Aboriginal community.
Wakwakurna Kanyini acknowledges the authority of Traditional Owners for their ongoing custodianship of Country ensuring Aboriginal children grow up with their rights to culture and a cultural identity.
Wakwakurna Kanyini acknowledges the deep history of Aboriginal-led advocacy for children and families in South Australia, and honours those who have dedicated their lives to fighting to keep Aboriginal families safe, strong, and grounded in culture.
Our role
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children is working to support the establishment of Wakwakurna Kanyini.
The proposed functions and design of Wakwakurna Kanyini have been agreed upon during an extensive South Australian community-led design process, led by SNAICC.
April Lawrie, South Australia’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, consulted with over 450 people between 2019 and 2021 to help inform a final report. Key Aboriginal peaks and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations from across South Australia were invited to contribute and these consultations were used to create a final report detailing Wakwakurna Kanyini’s role, structure and operation as determined by community stakeholders.
An Establishment Steering Committee of Aboriginal community members has also been formed to oversee the development of the organisation. This Steering Committee will serve as the organisation’s inaugural council, providing direction to the CEO and initial staff.
Wakwakurna Kanyini is led by Aboriginal people in South Australia and was established in July 2024.
Development of Options: Final ReportMembership application forms
Please email membership application forms to operations@wakwakurnakanyini.org.au.
Please click the links for: ACCO Membership Form and Individual Membership Form.