Led by community and shaped through co-design, a new culturally safe service is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families stay strong and together on the Gold Coast.
A community-led consultation process on the Gold Coast has shaped a culturally responsive model that is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families stay together, strengthen reunification and show what is possible when mob’s voices lead.
Community voices highlight the need for change
In June 2023, community members and services working alongside children and families were invited to join discussions on the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care on the Gold Coast.
The process involved three workshops, one-on-one yarning discussions and a community feedback session engaging a diverse group including community members, Elders, carers, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety staff, not‑for‑profit organisations, mainstream services, and those working directly and indirectly with vulnerable families who may be at risk of contact with the child protection system.
Community perspectives on the statutory approaches to child safety, child protection and family reunification highlighted the need for more practical and culturally safe services that support families early, long before Child Safety intervention is required.
However, participants noted that, when implemented well, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (CPP) remains a strong foundation for culturally safe decision-making and practice. CPP is a national framework that protects the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities by ensuring states and territories embed culture, family, Country and self-determination into all decision-making processes, policies and practice.
Throughout the workshops and discussions, community members and services highlighted that the Gold Coast area does have its strengths including, deep local family connections, strong cultural knowledge and sufficient access to medical and therapeutic supports.
The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety (at the time known as Department of Child, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs) funded the project through Kalwun aligning with the Closing the Gap priority to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.
From consultation to action through partnership
After a thorough and rigorous consultation process, a report, Caring for our Jarjums: It takes a community, was released presenting a co‑designed culturally responsive service model to family preservation and reunification on the Gold Coast.
Following the report, Child Safety gave Kalwun the opportunity to develop a new Indigenous Tertiary Family Intervention Service (ITFIS). This first-of-its-kind partnership marked an important shift, with Child Safety accepting the report’s findings and enabling Kalwun to lead the design and delivery of the program.
Two committees have been formed – the Executive Governance Committee and an Operational Governance Committee – made up of Elders, community members, mainstream organisations, frontline staff and senior leaders. Together, they provide ongoing oversight, cultural guidance and accountability.
The service model is grounded in an action learning framework to ensure ongoing learning, reflection and improvement, while keeping the principles of self-determination and cultural authority at the centre.
Building a culturally safe model of support
Before the ITFIS started, there was an establishment phase that focused on recruitment, policy development and embedding culturally informed practice. Once this phase was finalised, the ITFIS started on 1 July 2025, with case management beginning on 1 October 2025.
The ITFIS is still in its early stages, but Kalwun has already seen strong outcomes and a clear need for this service in community. The goal is to help families stay strong and get them the right supports early before problems grow and/or when Child Safety becomes involved.
Sitting within Kalwun’s Child, Youth and Family Services division, the ITFIS team walk alongside families, listen to their story, build the supports they need and ensure families lead in decision-making processes.
In practice this could look like, parenting support, guidance when working with Child Safety, cultural connection or personalised case plans tailored to family strengths. The approach is short-term and intensive focused to address immediate needs while building long-term skills.
How families can access this service
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the Gold Coast area can access this program through self-referral by directly contacting Kalwun’s Child, Youth and Family Services or a referral from elsewhere including:
- Other Kalwun services
- GPs or health clinics
- Schools or education staff
- Mainstream services
- Child Safety
Honouring the voices that shaped this work
This groundbreaking partnership between community and government shows what is possible when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are empowered to lead.
The success of ITFIS would not have been possible without the dedication of those who participated in the 2023 consultation. Their stories, knowledge, and commitment to helping our jarjums and families continue to guide this work.
In the near future we will be announcing a new program name for ITFIS to better reflect the service, its purpose and the families it supports.
As the ITFIS continues to grow, Kalwun remains committed to keeping mob’s voice and choice at the heart of all decision-making processes.
