The Western Australian government announced new Earlier Intervention and Family Support (EIFS) programs across the state on Thursday – delivering what it called "a record level" of Aboriginal-led support for children and families.
Eighteen new contracts have been awarded to deliver the Family Support Network (FSN) and the Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) programs to support children and families at risk of involvement or involved with the child protection system.
The programs are being delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations - or in partnership with an ACCO - to provide culturally responsive services that prioritise the needs of Aboriginal families. The FSN provides two streams of support for families across the Perth metro area, including assessment and co-ordination and intensive case management.
The IFSS is an intensive in-home support service operating in metropolitan and regional locations including the Perth metropolitan area, Goldfields, Great Southern, Mid West/Gascoyne, West Kimberley and the Wheatbelt.
WA Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski the announcement means there will be more Aboriginal organisations delivering important family support services in WA than ever before.
"This represents a major step forward in the State Government's early intervention approach - ensuring Aboriginal leadership is at the heart of our work to keep children safely at home," she said.
"We know we deliver the best outcomes for Aboriginal children and families with ACCO-led and ACCO-partnered services."
The new FSN and IFSS contracts complete the recommissioning of the WA government's EIFS programs to ensure ACCOs are "at the centre" of the programs to deliver culturally appropriate services, the government said.
The recommissioned programs are in addition to the Aboriginal In-Home Support Service, which provides support for Aboriginal families across the Perth metro area to keep children and young people safely at home with family, returned safely to family, and connected to Country, culture and community.
All four programs are being delivered by the WA government in partnership with the community services sector under the Earlier Intervention and Family Support Strategy.
The government described the programs as "a key part" of its "commitment to earlier intervention and prevention to keep children out of the child protection system and safe at home", ad reiterated its commitment to supporting ACCO-led service delivery of Earlier Intervention and Family Support Services, in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Ms Stojkovski said the Labor government has invested more than ever in child protection to support Western Australia's most vulnerable children and young people.
"We are committed to providing a culturally safe, responsive system that works together to support vulnerable families and prevent child protection involvement," she said.
