- Significant milestone reached in the reform of out-of-home-care (OOHC)
- Contracts awarded to 16 OOHC providers, including five new Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs)
- Delivering a more culturally safe and responsive OOHC system to meet the needs of Aboriginal children and their families
The Cook Government has reached a major milestone in the commissioning of out-of-home-care (OOHC) services, a major reform to the child protection system that will see $217 million invested in the OOHC sector annually from 2024-25.
Key priorities of the reform include greater stability for children entering care, the involvement of more Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), improved opportunities for early reunification, well-prepared young people leaving care, greater cultural connection and a flexible, needs-driven service system with improved accountability and regulation.
Following an open tender process, 16 providers have been awarded contracts to deliver OOHC services in Western Australia over the next five to seven years.
This includes five new ACCOs who will be providing OOHC services for the first time, alongside Yorganop, which already delivers culturally safe OOHC services in WA.
The Noongar Family Safety and Wellbeing Council has also received a grant to support newly awarded ACCO out-of-home-care providers to build their capacity in readiness for service commencement.
The expansion of ACCOs in the OOHC sector delivers on the Cook Government’s commitment to deliver high-quality, sustainable services and outcomes for Aboriginal children, families and communities.
The ACCOs awarded contracts are:
- Yorganop Association
- Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation
- Kinship Connections
- Wungening Aboriginal Corporation
- South West Aboriginal Medical Service
- Centacare Kimberley
Community Services Organisations awarded contacts are:
- Key Assets
- Lifestyle Solutions
- Life Without Barriers
- Mackillop Family Services
- Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc
- Wanslea
- Uniting WA
- The Australia Childhood Foundation
- My Place
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As stated by Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton:
“This milestone represents a significant step towards improving outcomes for children in care.
“These changes to the out-of-home-care system will result in Aboriginal children being cared for in care arrangements that meet their physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs in keeping with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
“The Cook Labor Government is implementing these reforms to improve outcomes for children in care and is supporting the sector to consistently deliver stable and holistic care for WA’s most vulnerable children.
“We know that Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) are best placed to provide these care arrangements for Aboriginal children and young people.
“Thank you to those who care for Western Australia’s children in care each and every day”.
