Introduction and overview

As practitioners and organisations working with children, families and communities, we share an obligation to work fairly, justly and in ways that support and strengthen families while bringing safety to children. We do this work with sincere acknowledgement of the ways that our work in the past has led to deep injustices against Aboriginal children, their families and their communities.

All practitioners working with Aboriginal families and communities need to understand the history of dispossession, social, political and economic exclusion, and intergenerational trauma. Historical government policies and laws created circumstances where Aboriginal people have been disenfranchised. As a result of these conditions, Aboriginal children are significantly over-represented in the child protection system. Aboriginal children are about six times more likely to be reported at risk of significant harm.

We cannot undo past wrongs. We cannot make up for the childhoods lost and the damage caused to individuals, families and cultural connections. In looking to the future we need to understand how we arrived at where we are today and ensure that we do not repeat the past injustices performed against Aboriginal people. Read the DCJ Apology letter to the Aboriginal people of NSW (PDF, 859.11 KB)

Improving the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal children is a key focus for the NSW Government. These Guidelines provide important information and guidance to NSW practitioners on how to practice our collective commitment to Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.