AbSec urges DCJ to honour its obligations to Indigenous children
AbSec has called for an urgent, culturally safe transition of care after the Children’s Guardian cancelled the out-of-home care accreditation of Narang Bir- rong Aboriginal Corporation, effective immediately, affecting 103 Aboriginal children and young people.
AbSec – NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation – acknowledged the Children’s Guardian’s decision to cancel Narang Bir-rong’s accreditation, but said the decision carries serious consequences for 103 Aboriginal children and young people currently in Narang Bir-rong’s care.
Key Points
- Children’s Guardian cancels Narang Bir-rong accreditation effective immediately
- AbSec says 103 Aboriginal children face urgent case management transfer
- Calls for NSW DCJ to prioritise local Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
- Insists placement decisions uphold the Child Placement Principle
- Warns against default placements with non-Aboriginal providers or off Country
- Demands transparent communication with children, carers and families
- Seeks public account of how the Principle will be upheld
AbSec has urged the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to act swiftly to ensure case management transfers prioritise local Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) and keep every affected child connected to family, community and culture. The organisation stated its immediate concern is the safety, stability and cultural connection of each child and young person affected.
“We acknowledge the Children’s Guardian’s decision and the seriousness with which it has been made. Our focus now is entirely on the children and young people in care — 103 Aboriginal kids whose lives must not be further disrupted by what happens next. The responsibility on DCJ to get this transition right cannot be overstated,” Absec CEHO John Leha said.
“DCJ has made clear commitments to building and strengthening the Aboriginal community- controlled sector. Those commitments must be honoured right now, in this moment. Every effort must be made to transfer the care and case management of these children and young people to ACCOs in their local area — organisations that understand their communities, their families and their culture.
“Placing Aboriginal children with non-Aboriginal providers or moving them away from Country is not an acceptable default. This cannot end with our kids falling through the cracks again.
“The research is unambiguous: Aboriginal children who grow up knowing their culture, their Elders and their Country are healthier, stronger and better supported into adulthood. Every placement decision made during this transition must start from that truth.”
AbSec stressed that the transition of case management back to DCJ must not result in children being placed further from family, community and Country. The organisation said decisions taken in the coming days and weeks will have lasting consequences and must be made with that gravity in mind.
AbSec’s calls to DCJ
AbSec said the Department of Communities and Justice has made clear commitments to building and strengthening the Aboriginal community-controlled sector and that those commitments must be honoured during this transition.
It urged that every effort be made to transfer care and case management to ACCOs in the children’s local areas, and cautioned that placing Aboriginal children with non-Aboriginal providers or moving them away from Country is not an acceptable default.
AbSec outlined specific actions it is calling on DCJ to take:
- prioritise the transfer of case management to local ACCOs wherever possible, in line with DCJ’s stated commitments to the Aboriginal community-controlled sector
- ensure every placement decision made during the transition fully complies with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle
- communicate directly and transparently with the children, young people, carers and families affected
- engage AbSec and relevant ACCOs as partners in the transition process, not as an afterthought
- provide a clear public account of how the Principle will be upheld throughout this process
AbSec also acknowledged the uncertainty facing carers, families and staff and called on DCJ to provide clear communication and transparency throughout the transition.
Cultural connection
AbSec also emphasised that cultural connection must guide every placement decision during the transition. The organisation referred to research findings noting the importance of children growing up connected to culture, Elders and Country, and said this understanding should anchor decision-making.
The organisation highlighted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle as the legal and ethical framework governing placement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care in NSW.
The Principle establishes a clear hierarchy of placement preference — prioritising family, then kinship, then Aboriginal community, then Aboriginal foster care — and requires that Aboriginal people be actively involved in all decisions affecting Aboriginal children. AbSec stated that full implementation of the Principle is a core commitment of the organisation and a cornerstone of the national Closing the Gap agenda.
About AbSec
AbSec is the peak Aboriginal organisation in NSW dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by advocating for the rights, safety, and wellbeing of our children, young people and families. We build strength and resilience by supporting community-led solutions, shaping policy, and driving reforms that ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and young person grows up strong in culture and identity.
