Families Australia respects the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to preserve and practise their culture and to make decisions about their future. We acknowledge their right to be treated with respect, heard on all issues that affect them and consulted fully on policy and service delivery issues.
Families Australia is strongly committed to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples. SNAICC – National Voice for our Children is one of four founding Members and has had representation on the Families Australia Board since 2001.
Families Australia has consistently ensured that the likely effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities are taken into account when devising policy positions. It advocated strongly for the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues in the development of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 (National Framework) and actively sought for these issues to be substantively advanced in the implementation phase of the National Framework.
Families Australia’s first Plan for Reconciliation which covered the period 2012-15 was developed in consultation with a Board sub-committee, including the Board nominee for SNAICC – Voice for our Children.
Families Australia’s second Plan can be viewed here.