Families Australia appreciates the opportunity to contribute to AIFS’ concurrent calls for submissions on the:

1. 1. Foster, kinship and permanent carers payments review;
   2. Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) review; and
   3. National Out-of-Home Care Standards refresh – in partnership with SNAICC

Families Australia is submitting this response in our capacity as the convening body for the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing. A focus through the AIFS consultations and submission process has been to:

• ensure that our members are informed of AIFS’ calls for submissions through notifications via emails and editions of the National Coalition e-bulletin;
• encourage and support members to make their own direct submissions;
• host an online consultation forum on 7 April in which members discussed key points related to each of the three submissions;
• encourage members and stakeholders to discuss common points of interest – and differences – with their colleagues in the development of their respective submissions; and
• provide this high-level summary submission to AIFS which highlights key points raised by our membership both through our consultation forum member matters raised directly with us.

Families Australia and the National Coalition support the self-determination of First Nations children, young people families and communities. As a non-Indigenous peak body our aim is to amplify calls made by our First Nations peers, members and stakeholders in supporting the aspirations of First Nations people and addressing barriers negatively impact First Nations families, children and young people.

A core value for Families Australia and the National Coalition is ensuring that the voices of those with living and lived experience are central. Across the three review processes we encourage AIFS to prioritise the voices of First Nations peoples and those with living/lived experience of the out of home care system.