ACT Aboriginal Children’s Forum

Our goal is to make sure Aboriginal children in the ACT thrive. We want them to live in culturally rich and strong Aboriginal families and communities.

The ACT Government in partnership with Yerrabi Yurwang established the ACT Aboriginal Children’s Forum. The work is part of ACT Government’s agreement to Aboriginal Self-determination and follows both local and national agreements on Closing the Gap.

What we do

We support Aboriginal Self-Determination and drive systemic change. We guide the implementation of policy and practice that embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles (ATSICPP).

To do this we:

• Ensure that policies and practice guidance focus on keeping children within family, kin, and culture.
• Ensure that when children and young people are in care arrangements that all active efforts are in place to support restoration or increase in family connection.
• Establish standards of casework practice to achieve casework excellence.
• Support the successful transition of services for all Aboriginal children, including those in out of home care, to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs).
• Ensure Aboriginal children and young people leaving statutory systems are supported to reconnect with family and community.
• Support and sustain the Aboriginal community-controlled prevention and early intervention system to respond to vulnerability as and when it arises.
• Apply Aboriginal ways of responding to child and family issues.

We proudly acknowledge and support the investment in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations. We recognise their vital role in strengthening the Out-of-Home Care service system.

Our members

ACT Aboriginal Children’s Forum members 2026

Our members must have decision-making power within their organisation. Members are from organisations that provide child and family services to Aboriginal children and their families in the ACT. These include:

• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
• Organisations providing child and family services to Aboriginal children and their families.
• ACT Government staff with direct roles in service delivery for Aboriginal Children and families.

Currently our partnering organisations include:

• Health and Community Services Directorate
• Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation
• Australian Childhood Foundation
• The Benevolent Society
• Uniting Children and Families ACT
• Key Assets Australia
• Aboriginal Legal Services, NSW
• OzChild
• Barnardos Australia
• Conflict Resolution Service ACT
• Karralika Programs
• Marymead Catholic Care Canberra and Goulburn
• Mackillop Family Services.

Publications

• Workplan 2026 [PDF  243KB]
• Communication and Engagement plan 2026 [253 KB]
• ACT Aboriginal Childrens Forum Purpose statement 2026 [179KB]

Related information

Contact us