VACCA - the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency - has welcomed the passage of amendments to the Children, Youth and Families Act by the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Stability) Bill 2025 by Victoria's parliament.
VACCA said the reforms came following government consultation with the Agency and other Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations who "have seen first-hand the harmful impacts of this punitive legislative regime".
VACCA acting chief executive Megan Van Den Berg said the changes provide "greater flexibility and time for Aboriginal families to access the culturally appropriate, intensive and targeted supports that they need, ensuring children can be where they belong - with their families and community".
"When you do the work with families and offer the right supports, children go home. This is the ultimate aim," Ms Van Den Berg said.
Under the Children, Youth and Families Act, the Secretary is the legal entity responsible for child protection. The formal role entails intervening to protect children from harm, placing them under care orders, and managing family services.
VACCA is one of four Aboriginal agencies in Victoria authorised with the functions and powers of the Secretary in relation to the protection of Aboriginal children.
VACCA said removing the 12-month maximum that children can be in out-of-home care before sole parental responsibility is transferred to the State, will "ultimately divert more children from languishing in State care".
"This will allow decisions about the best available care at any point in time to include a consideration of a family's changed circumstances," the Agency said.
VACCA provides "culturally safe holistic programs that address the complex trauma and entrenched disadvantage that contributes to the continuously growing number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care".
An independent evaluation of VACCA's exercise of the Secretary's functions and powers found that the reunification rate of Aboriginal children on Family Reunification Orders was twice that of the Department of Families Fairness and Housing during the same time period and location.
This comparative rate was noted by the Children's Court of Victoria's evidence to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, to be even higher in circumstances where Aboriginal children were on non-reunification orders, VACCA noted in a statement on Friday.
Other amendments included removing adoption from the Act.
"To support the wellbeing and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children it's imperative that they remain connected to family and community," Ms Van Den Berg said.
VACCA said there is more work to be done to fully realise Yoorrook's child protection system recommendations "to prevent further injustice and ensure cultural connection and safety for Aboriginal children".
VACCA said it looks forward to continuing to work with the Victorian government and other Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to support policy and legislation to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, and pave the way to reunification.
