The NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation, AbSec, has welcomed the state government's commitment to a $900 million five-year investment to better support vulnerable families, keep children safe, and drive reform of the child protection system.
Announced Wednesday, the funding for the Family Preservation program will, in the NSW government's words, "deliver more effective support to help families in crisis, and direct resources to where they're needed most".
40 per cent of the investment—almost $350 million—will go directly to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), who the government said in a statement "are best-placed to support Aboriginal children and families to stay safely together".
The NSW government acknowledged that Aboriginal children continue to be significantly overrepresented in the foster care system and said Indigenous-led bodies "are often best placed to provide cultural connection and support for Aboriginal children, families, and communities".
AbSec chief executive John Leha said the organisation "welcomes the NSW government's commitment to reforming Family Preservation and acknowledges the vital partnership with Aboriginal communities that has shaped the Aboriginal Family Preservation framework".
"This approach is more than a policy shift—it is an act of justice. It restores our communities' right to care for our children and young people in ways that reflect who we are, where we come from, and what we need to thrive," he said.
"We look forward to walking alongside our sector partners to bring this framework to life—because when Aboriginal communities lead, our children and young people are safer, our families are stronger, and our futures are brighter."
Family Preservation services across NSW offer support to more than 4,000 at-risk families each year, focusing on: Preventing children from entering foster care; improving family functioning by creating safe and stable home environments; building parenting skills and confidence; and supporting healthy child development.
The NSW government said the reforms were developed in partnership with AbSec and ACCOs, and ensure Aboriginal organisations "take a leading role in designing and delivering services by and for their communities".
The government also said it would will introduce five-year contracts from 2026, "providing stability for service providers while ensuring taxpayer money is being used effectively and efficiently, and always for the benefit of the community".
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Harris said the funding constitutes "the largest investment ever directed to Aboriginal-led family preservation services in NSW".
"It's a vital step in keeping Aboriginal children safe, connected to culture, and with family. For too long, Aboriginal communities haven't had a real say in the decisions that affect their children—this funding changes that, by backing solutions designed and delivered by ACCOs," he said.
"We're turning our Closing the Gap commitments into action, with long-term support for Aboriginal organisations to lead the way in keeping kids safe and families strong."
NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said the $900 million program is a demonstration that the Minns government is "investing in community support for vulnerable families".
"Family Preservation services help address safety concerns and build parenting capability and confidence, so more children can avoid out-of-home care and stay safely at home," she said.
"Far too many Aboriginal children are growing up in the foster care system. We all know that must change. Aboriginal-led, designed and delivered programs are going to help drive that desperately needed change."
