The futures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care are at the centre of a major event and united stand at Parliament House on Thursday to "change the trajectory of Target 12 and reduce the over-representation of First Nations children in care".

With just five years remaining to meet Australia's Closing the Gap targets, Allies for Children and the First Nations NGO Alliance, in partnership with SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, say they are demonstrating "reform is not only urgent, it is already underway".

Progress on Closing the Gap Target 12 has stalled nationally, with outcomes worsening in some jurisdictions, the groups noted.

First Nations children are 10 times more likely to be in out of home care

Target 12 of Closing the Gap has the goal of reducing the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031.

Today, there are approximately 23,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children currently living in out-of-home care, and First Nations children are 10 times more likely to be in care than non-Indigenous children.

More than half of these children are placed with non-Indigenous mainstream organisations despite evidence showing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children see better outcomes when connected to family, kin and community.

Transition involves the staged transfer of responsibility, resources and decision-making to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), enabling more children to be safely supported by community.

Together, Allies for Children represent around 15 per cent of child and family services nationally and are collectively responsible for the care of approximately 1,900 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. As a collective, and in partnership with ACCOs, they are working together to return children to family, kin and community and strengthen connection to culture. This includes shifting resources and responsibility from mainstream services to ACCOs, so they can better support their communities.

First Nations leadership is vital

The alliance members described their work as "a shared, national effort — one voice made up of many — grounded in First Nations leadership and focused on practical, system-level change".

The event at Parliament House also calls on other mainstream organisations delivering out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to join the movement and make commitments that contribute to achieving Target 12.

The Allies for Children partnership works alongside the First Nations NGO Alliance and SNAICC to drive reform by: Helping children return safely to their families and kin; supporting transitions and enhancing support of ACCOs; strengthening children's connection to family, culture, community and Country; and committing leadership, resources and operational change within mainstream systems.

SNAICC launches 'transformation principles'

Also on Thursday, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children release their 'Transformation Principles' to support mainstream organisations to shift child protection services to ACCOs, strengthen community-controlled capacity, and align systems with Closing the Gap commitments. This is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-informed resource that SNAICC is providing to the sector with encouragement to start the journey.

SNIACC chief executive Catherine Liddle said the Allies for Children "are not waiting for government to take the lead to address the overrepresentation of our children in OOHC".

"It's bold, it's courageous and it's necessary to see Target 12 achieved," she said.

"We need more organisations to do the right thing by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their care and start the journey to transition, that's why we have launched our Transformation Principles Framework, to help drive structural change.

"To be truly transformative and change-making, this transition needs to be effective and sustainable. This means supporting ACCOs with capacity-building and workforce development, aligning with Closing the Gap Priority Reforms."

Standing together 'with one unshakeable purpose'

Esmai Manahan of the First Nations NGO Alliance said deep and lasting change for Aboriginal children and families must be led by Aboriginal leadership, "strengthened through principled allyship and partnership".

"Today, the First Nations NGO Alliance, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, Allies for Children, Elders and community stand together with one unshakeable purpose: To ensure our children grow up in family and community, safe, loved, and strong in culture — not in crisis," said Ms Manahan, who is also National Director of MacKillop Family Services.

"The evidence is clear that a more intensive, family-centred approach that is culturally safe and informed by the wisdom of Elders will have a profound impact in supporting families to stay together and prevent children and young people entering the out-of-home care system."

Life Without Barriers CEO Claire Robbs, speaking on behalf of Allies for Children, said being an effective ally "means changing ourselves".

"Progress towards Target 12 is possible and we can achieve it if we work together," she said.

"We are examining and dismantling policies, practices and arrangements within our own organisations that contribute to the overrepresentation of First Nations children in the foster care system, and shifting power, resources and decision making to community controlled and First Nations led solutions."