The peak body for Aboriginal children, young people and families in New South Wales has launched a new initiative to help Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) prepare tenders for the state government's $350 million Family Preservation funding package.
Last month, the NSW Labor government announced a $900 million five-year investment aimed at better supporting vulnerable families, improving child safety, and reforming the child protection system.
Forty per cent of the funding — almost $350 million — is earmarked for ACCOs, which the government says "are best-placed to support Aboriginal children and families to stay safely together".
To support Aboriginal organisations through the application process, AbSec has launched a new initiative offering free, independent consultancy support during the Department of Communities and Justice's (DCJ) eight-week tender window.
In a statement, AbSec said all ACCOs — regardless of membership — can now access "expert procurement and tender-writing advice to ensure their submissions reflect the full quality and cultural responsiveness of their services".
Chief Executive John Leha said the initiative is about making sure community-led organisations are properly supported to access the funding.
"But a good policy on paper means little unless our community organisations are genuinely equipped to participate," he said. "This support is about fairness — it's about ensuring ACCOs have a real shot."
While he acknowledged that ACCOs are "primarily the experts in designing and delivering effective and culturally responsive support to Aboriginal people in need," Mr Leha said many organisations lack the resources to navigate large-scale government investment processes.
"Tendering is one of the most important and often most convoluted of these processes."
The launch comes as new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows First Nations children and young people in NSW are placed in out-of-home care at a rate of 45.1 per 1,000 — nearly 10 times the rate of non-Indigenous children.
Mr Leha said AbSec's "ultimate goal" is to drastically reduce the number of Indigenous children and families entering the out-of-home care system.
"It is a core purpose as the peak organisation to build and strengthen the ACCO sector and ensure Aboriginal voices are heard by the government," he said.
In its initial funding announcement, the NSW government said it recognised the ongoing overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in care and affirmed that Indigenous-led organisations "are often best placed to provide cultural connection and support for Aboriginal children, families, and communities".
At the time, Mr Leha called the investment "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.
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Harris described the funding as "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 last month.
Mr Leha warned that equitable access must be a priority, noting that ACCOs have often had to "compete with one hand tied behind their back— stretched on capacity, with little access to specialist support".
"That ends now. AbSec is doing what a peak body should: removing barriers and backing community-led success," he said.
"With this funding now at tendering stage, the real work begins and AbSec's provision of free, independent consultancy support for ACCOs represents another example of practical and positive influence in the sector."
