National Child and Family Investment Strategy
About the strategy
The National Child and Family Investment Strategy (Investment Strategy) is a key activity of the Safe and Supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023–2026.
The Investment Strategy recommends funding priorities for child and family services. It focuses on:
- shifting investment towards prevention and early support to reduce child abuse and neglect
- investing in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). This is to deliver an increased proportion of culturally appropriate child and family services.
The Australian Government has committed more than $10 million over 5 years (2022–23 to 2026–27). This is to develop the Investment Strategy and an Innovation Fund.
This work will help guide future funding decisions for the child and family sector.
The National Child and Family Investment Strategy
Development of the strategy
We worked with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) to develop the Investment Strategy. SNAICC consulted with a wide range of stakeholders. This included representatives from:
- state and territory governments
- the Australian Government
- ACCOs
- non-Indigenous non-government organisations (NGOs)
- First Nations organisations.
Changing the Balance report
Changing the Balance is a research report by Families Australia.
The report highlights how to support the sector as we shift funding towards ACCO-led service delivery. It captures some of the challenges Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that are non-Indigenous may face during the transition.
Families Australia consulted across the sector. The findings of the report are closely aligned to the focus of the Investment Strategy.
Changing the Balance Report
Innovation Fund
This is funding for organisations to test agreed principles of the Investment Strategy in select locations across Australia. It provided grants to a diverse range of organisations. The results will improve our understanding of the supports needed for the Investment Strategy.
The Innovation Fund grant started in 2025. It is providing $9.8 million in funding over 3 years. The funding is going to 10 ACCOs currently delivering, or seeking to deliver, child and family services. These ACCOs are in targeted priority locations.
We will complete an external evaluation of the Innovation Fund in 2027.
Read the media release for this grant opportunity(Opens in a new tab/window).
The Investment Strategy and its Innovation Fund grant are priority actions under the Safe and Supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023–2026. The grant is testing the recommendations of Investment Strategy. Findings from the grant round will inform how we apply the Investment Strategy. It will inform how we apply the Investment Strategy.
Trial projects will include:
- testing and preparing for the phased transfer of resources and funding for child and family service delivery to the ACCO sector
- shifting service delivery focus to prevention and early supports for children and families.
The delivery organisations are:
- Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) Aboriginal Corporation – East Arnhem, NT
- Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) Aboriginal Corporation – Victoria River / Katherine, NT
- Urapuntja Aboriginal Corporation, Sandover – Plenty, NT
- Ngunga Group Women’s Aboriginal Corporation – Derby, WA
- Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC) Aboriginal Corporation – Kimberley Region, WA
- Kornar Winmil Yunti (KWY) Aboriginal Corporation – Playford, SA
- Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council (NPYWC) Aboriginal Corporation – APY Lands, SA
- Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation) – Cairns, QLD
- Palm Island Community Company (PICC) Ltd – Palm Island, QLD
- Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation – Nowra, NSW.