- Community Services Minister Simone McGurk has announced contracts for the new Family Care Support Service
- Services to support at-risk families have been expanded across Western Australia
- The number of community service organisations delivering Intensive Family Support services and Family Support Networks will more than treble, and include 12 Aboriginal community controlled organisations
The State Government will more than treble the number of community service organisations delivering earlier intervention and enhanced family support services to improve outcomes for vulnerable families across Western Australia.
The new Family Care Support Service aims to keep children with family carers and reduce the number of children entering foster care by building on families' abilities to provide a stable environment for children who cannot remain with their parents.
The Family Care Support Service is part of the State Government's wider Out of Home Care Strategy (OOHC), which focuses on diverting families from the child protection and out-of-home care systems.
The State Government, through the Department of Communities, developed the Family Care Support Service in response to challenges facing the current system including an increasing rate of Aboriginal children entering care.
Contracts have been awarded to 12 Aboriginal community controlled organisations to enable the delivery of more culturally sensitive services in regional areas, and ensure that children receive the most culturally appropriate care.
The Family Care Support Service will be provided in all metropolitan districts along with the East Kimberley, West Kimberley, Pilbara and Wheatbelt regional districts.
Comments attributed to Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"Family carers currently make up more than 40 per cent of care arrangements for children in the child protection system, yet there have previously been limited services available to them.
"Intensive in-home family support services will be available to families who are most at risk of child protection intervention, along with those who require support to improve family wellbeing and keep their children safely at home.
"Services will be aligned to divert families from the child protection system and safely reduce the number of children entering out-of-home care.
"Providing out-of-home care services that help children and young people to heal from the trauma they have suffered, while remaining connected to their family, community and culture, is integral to achieving better outcomes for children in out-of-home care."
Minister's office: 6552 6600
Intensive Family Support Services
Family Support Network Lead Agency
*ACCO - Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.
