Because of them, we must

We are committed to Family Matters and creating a future that ensures children and young people have every opportunity to grow up safe connected to their culture and family, and support them to thrive.

We use practical tools such as ‘cultural strength planning’ and ‘story lines’ to help enable children, young people and their families to have a voice that is strong and culturally connected.

As an organisation, our commitment to ‘Family Matters’ adheres to the six core principles and actions:

• Applying a child focused approach.
• Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations participate in and have control over decisions that affect their children.
• Protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s right to live in culture.
• Pursuing evidence based responses.
• Supporting, healing and strengthening families.
• Challenging systemic racism and inequalities.

The Family Matters campaign aims to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 2040 and ensure children and young people grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture. There is a significant over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.

Through our Children, Youth and Families Service, we support more than 20 percent of all children in out-of-home care in Queensland.

Strong cultural connections are a priority for the Family Matters Campaign. We support this through our services so that every child and young person has the right to live freely in culture.