A new landmark to help reduce the number of Indigenous children in out-of-home care has been handed to the Western Australian government.

The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) - National Voice for Our Children worked with local Aboriginal communities and organisations, alongside the WA government, to help develop a 10-year roadmap that they say, will help reduce the gross over-representation of First Nations children in care.

SNAICC CEO and proud Arnette/Luritja woman, Catherine Liddle, said there were contributions from individuals and family members with lived experiences of out-of-home care amongst the 200 plus stakeholders across WA who contributed to the roadmap.

"SNAICC worked with Aboriginal community organisations on the ground to make sure local voices were heard and that local expertise informed this strategy," Ms Liddle said.

"We would like to thank everyone who shared their stories with us to develop this important strategy, and to the WA Aboriginal Reference Group for their guidance."

The roadmap is WA's plan for the state to meet its commitment under the Closing the Gap Agreement, with the goal to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in out-of-home care by 45 per cent by 2031.

Ms Liddle said that across the entire state "from the Kimberley in the north, through the Pilbara and Gascoyne, the Goldfields, Western Desert and to Noongar Boodja in the south," key themes emerged that pointed to a way forward.

SNAICC outlined that these included: Improving access to services for Aboriginal children and families in order to prevent further engagement with the various child protection systems, recognition of Aboriginal leadership at regional and state-wide levels with new peak bodies for children and families, understanding the need for urgent reforms to transform departmental out-of-home care and child protection practices, and family, extended family and community having a leading role in decisions made about the care of children.

Other themes that emerged was the confirmation of the long-held understanding that Aboriginal community-controlled (ACCO) services are the preferred agencies to support children and families in child protection; whilst systemic racism - and racism experienced by individuals - stills plays a significant role in the child protection systems.

In the recently released Yoorrook Justice Commission report in Victoria, one of the key recommendations was that the state should "transfer decision-making power, authority, control and resources to First Peoples giving full effect to self-determination in the Victorian child protection system."

"Yoorrook heard evidence of systemic racism across health services and the lack of culturally appropriate support to new mothers and how this can result in removal of their babies," the report said.

Liddle said stakeholders had told SNAICC "Too often children were being taken from family and ending up in worse situations than they were before removal".

"What came through loud and clear was the need to involve Aboriginal children, families, and communities every step of the way when decisions are being made about the safety of our young people," Ms Liddle said.

"Developing and strengthening ACCO services will be key to the WA Government meeting its commitment to reducing the over-representation of children in out-of-home care."

In a statement, SNAICC said they were looking forward to the WA government's formal response.

Earlier this month, the Western Australian government announced grants for 11 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, to "strengthen culturally safe service delivery within the Child Protection system:". It said the grants will support the state-wide establishment of Aboriginal Representative Organisations.

"Building the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations is a priority of the Cook Labor Government," Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton said.

"Cultural safety within the Child Protection system is extremely important for the long-term wellbeing of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care."

Ms Liddle has recently also called for an independent National Commissioner dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

At the recent SNAICC '23 conference, Allies for Children, a newly formed alliance of Child Protection agencies rallied behind Ms Liddle's calls, with Allies for Children spokesperson Claire Robbs saying SNAICC have been advocating for the positions creation for 42 years.