The $1.39 million trial will assist Aboriginal families with children at risk of serious harm or in out of home care, and support children to stay connected with their family, community and culture.

The project is funded through the Closing the Gap Outcomes and Evidence Fund which is trialling approaches aimed at the Closing the Gap targets and particularly Target 12, to reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031.

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council will deliver the trial project within their Stronger Families Service Model, a case management social and emotional well-being program.

The project was selected through an assessment of proposals facilitated by Inner Sydney Empowered Communities (ISEC), an alliance of Aboriginal service organisations within the Redfern and La Perouse areas of Sydney.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said one of the Fund’s aims is to test new projects to help local communities reduce their incidence of family violence and out of home care.

“First Nations children are almost 12 times more likely to be in out-of-home care or connected to the child protection system, and our Government is determined to see this rate reduce,” Rishworth said.

“This trial will see the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council work with local families who are at risk of having a child enter the child protection system, as well as families where the goal is reunification.

“All children deserve to be raised in an environment free of abuse and neglect, and this trial will see at-risk children and their families get the support they need to grow up safe and connected.”

Assistant Minister for Immigration  Matt Thistlethwaite said the trial project built on the strength of the local community. 

“The La Perouse community has a proud history of strength and resilience, deeply rooted in its cultural heritage,” Thistlethwaite said.

“This trial project builds on that foundation by providing practical support to families at risk and helping maintain vital connections to culture and community.”

The trial also aligns with the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023-26, which is the Government’s key mechanism to respond to Target 12.

More information about the Fund is available on the Department of Social Services website.