Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians continue to experience significant disadvantage and marginalisation. In partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-run member organisations, such as SNAICC- National Voice for our Children (a Families Australia founding member), Families Australia advocates for improvements, such as increased health spending, universal provision of high quality, culturally appropriate early learning and school education services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and child welfare and family support programmes.
In particular, Families Australia works to highlight the needs and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.
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 latest Plan for Reconciliation covers the period FY18-FY20. The Plan was developed in consultation with the Board reference group which comprises the Chair, two Aboriginal Controlled organisation members of the Board, the CEO and Deputy CEO. Our Plan is a foundation document that guides our actions and decision making and is the shared responsibility of all Board and staff members to uphold.