Updates

New plan to tackle high number of First Nations children in care

Queensland Government media release

Aboriginal organisations will be given more control over children in the state’s child protection system in a multi-million dollar plan aimed at reducing the numbers of First Nations children in care.

More help to keep families together and more kinship carers are also key elements of Breaking Cycles: An action plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2023–2025, launched by Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford.

In partnership with Family Matters Queensland and the Queensland First Children and Families Board, the plan comprises:

• expanding delegated authority across the state, where Aboriginal organisations will be given more control over children in the child protection system, with funding of about $108m over 4 years
  
  
• more funding for services provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations including Family Wellbeing Services ($26.560m over 4 years and $10.298m ongoing to expand it) and the Family Participation Program ($22.464m over 4 years and $9.711m ongoing), and
  
  
• trialling Family Caring for Family, in partnership with the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, to increase the number of First Nations children placed with family and/or kin ($1.9m over two years).

Breaking Cycles 2023-2025 is the third action plan under the Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017-2037. Find out more.