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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-18 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about her recent visits to the Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and the important role they will play in the new child and family support systems?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for her question. I have spoken in this place before about the important reforms that are taking place in the codesign of the child and family support systems, which has had some 600 people participating across South Australia in terms of how we redesign those services, which are really designed to assist families before the statutory response is required and so assist families to make better connections so that they can safely care for their own children.

Last week, it was my great pleasure to visit several different services which have scope that fits within this area, including Kornar Winmil Yunti which, in 2019, won the contract for the Aboriginal family preservation service for families at risk of having their children placed in care. This is a $2.2 million pilot program that will run for two years, and the codesign period is due for completion fairly soon. It is expected to commence in March following approval of the service model proposal from the codesign period. It will be independently evaluated by the Parenting Resource Centre.

We also have Aboriginal Family Support Services. I think it's largest funder is the Department for Child Protection. It has a regional footprint and so it provides services in Ceduna, Port Pirie, the Riverland and a range of other regions. As well as being involved in the codesign process it is also going to be part of building capacity for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to assist them in the delivery of their services.

I also visited a Tiraapendi Wodli community hub, part of the Port Adelaide Justice Reinvestment initiative. They received funding over a two-year period to assist with their leadership programs. We have had very positive feedback regarding engagement from the community so far, and I know they look forward to further strengthening their linkages with the community.

Very importantly, as part of the codesign process for the Child and Family Support Services, it has been determined that when we recommission those services we will what is called 'ring fence' 30 per cent of the funding for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations—or ACCOs, as they are often referred to. This will ensure those services go to the target groups we have identified that particularly need it. I think the sector, more broadly, has accepted that this is very important going forward, and we look forward to delivering on those services as they are recommissioned.

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