Aboriginal foster care organisations

Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) exist to deliver the best services and outcomes for Closing the Gap.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or kin/relative carer, get in touch with an ACCO directly to discuss your foster care journey. 

Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations  

Biripi Aboriginal Corporation

Biripi Aboriginal Children Services (BACS) provides culturally informed out-of-home care services to Aboriginal children who are under the Parental Responsibility of the Minister, Department of Communities and Justice. BACS work with the child and young person’s carers, family, kin and community to keep connections with their culture and achieve permanency based on the Permanency Support Program and principles.

Areas of operations include Mid-North Coast (Taree office) and Hunter New England (Inverell office). Hunter New England services are delivered through the connected entity of Walanbaa Gaayli Children services, a culturally approved trading name for services delivered in that region.

Burrun Dalai Aboriginal Corporation

Burrun Dalai means “dream for children” in Dunghutti. Burrun Dalai is a government funded not for profit Aboriginal community-controlled organisation providing support to Aboriginal children and young people, their birth families and foster families.

The team at Burrun Dalai believe Aboriginal children and young people, should stay in their community with their family, when safe to do so. When they can't live with family, children should be able to live with caring and nurturing Aboriginal families that have links and connections to their community, thereby enabling these kids the ability to maintain their identity and connections.

Burrun Dalai’s vision is to maintain Aboriginal family values. Ensuring this objective has traditionally involved the extended family members and community members in the care and development of children. 

Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Family Community Care Centre Aboriginal Corporation

Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Community Care Centre (known as “Abcare”) is an incorporated non-government community-based organisation, managed by a local committee elected annually from the membership.

Abcare services Coffs Harbour and surrounding towns, south to Nambucca, west to Ebor and north to South Grafton. The philosophy of the organisation is to provide a quality service to Aboriginal people that enhances cultural values and empowers the Aboriginal Community.

As an Aboriginal organisation, Aboriginal children and young people and their families are a priority and Abcare aim to ensure that those children requiring foster care are placed in a culturally appropriate placement.

Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service

The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service supports the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community in Coonamble. It provides a range of services including dental care, medical care, family wellbeing support, counselling, early childhood programs and out-of-home care.

Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Service have recently started providing OOHC through the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service.

Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation

The Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation (IAC) is an Aboriginal community-controlled, not-for-profit organisation. Based in Wollongong and working across the region, IAC is driven to achieve excellence in providing advocacy and culturally appropriate services to meet the needs of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Myimbarr’s Permanency Support aims to place Aboriginal children, young people, and their families within a strengthened environment to remain in safe, connected, and in culturally rich settings, supported by their relatives, kin, and community. The vision and aim of the Preservation Program are for more children and young people to remain safe at home with their families, are healthy and thriving, and have improved long-term outcomes.

KARI Ltd

KARI is the collective term when referring to three entities: KARI Limited, KARI Foundation and KARI Aboriginal Procurement. KARI has long supported the Aboriginal community by designing and delivering quality programming and services.

KARI is committed to providing quality, sustainable services to Aboriginal communities, especially in the areas of Aboriginal child protection and Aboriginal community support programs.

Kari operates nationally.

Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation

Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation provides family and parenting support, youth work and mentoring, family and intense family preservation, foster care services, and Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre that includes childcare and pre-school. The organisation was formed to provide a support service to Aboriginal families and individuals in Newcastle and surrounding Local Government Areas.

Their Cultural Journeyz program provides culturally appropriate support to children and young people as well as their carers.

Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation

Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation’s mission is to provide culturally and spiritually stable homes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families. Their family preservation, foster care and support programs help our children and young people meet their social, emotional and behavioural needs.

Narang Bir-rong, meaning ‘little stars’, is committed to supporting the emerging generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by honouring connections to community, family, culture and land.

Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Child and Family Network Inc

Ngunya Jarjum (meaning "all our children") Aboriginal Child and Family Network Inc. is a community-based service, which is made up of dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people who are committed to improving services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families throughout the Far North Coast.

Orange Aboriginal Medical Services – Yiriyirimbang OOHC Service

Yiriyiribang aims to strengthen a child and young person connection to family, community and country by established a sense of belonging for Aboriginal children in care. OAMS does this by:

• Aboriginal staff led out-of-home care service.
• Focusing on connections of child or young person so they don’t lose connection to culture.
• Actively engaging in the children’s cultural planning and being proactive in life story work.
• Promoting self-determination and family led decision making.
• Maintain a register of Aboriginal potential Auntie’s and Uncles (foster carers) in our area.
• Providing resources to Aboriginal children and families to support cultural knowledge.
• Culturally safe restoration program acknowledging that safety and the best interest of the child is paramount.

Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Service

The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) is the peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) across NSW.

The AH&MRC works with our membership in NSW to ensure accessibility to an adequately resourced and skilled workforce who provide high quality comprehensive primary health care services for Aboriginal communities.

The AH&MRC works in collaboration with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health partners to systematically address the social determinants of health and wellbeing.

South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (AMS)

South Coast Medical Service (SCMSAC) Aboriginal Corporation is a non-government, not-for-profit which is a highly regarded Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO). SCMSAC provides health related services relevant to the wellbeing and to the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout the Shoalhaven.

SCMSAC support Aboriginal Foster Care placements for children and young people aged 0-18 years. SCMSAC have offices in Nowra, Batemans Bay, Goulburn and Bega. From these offices, they support foster care placements in the Shoalhaven, and down to the Victorian border.

Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation

Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation has worked to empower their Indigenous community since 1994. Based on Wannaruah country, they have built strong community and industry relationships that allow them to assist the Upper Hunter Indigenous community to achieve their vision for the future. Ungooroo remain the only Indigenous not-for-profit shop-front organisation in Singleton.

Wandiyali ATSI Inc

Wandiyali’s vision is to offer culturally appropriate services that support, nurture and empower our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Wandiyali offer a wide range of services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community across the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and the greater Hunter Valley areas. Wandiyali will provide the best possible support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who access their services.

Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Inc

Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre’s (Winanga-Li) overall aim is to provide culturally safe and appropriate education and care and support services for children aged 0 to 8 and their families. Winanga-Li are an accredited provider of out-of-home care, to support the children who are in foster care to maintain their cultural identity, connection to family and thrive in their environment.

Gunnedah is in the approximate centre of Gamilaraay country. Since established, Winanga-Li has developed a range of programs working with Aboriginal families in northwest NSW.

Woomera Aboriginal Corporation Albury

Woomera is a community based not-for-profit organisation founded in 1990 that offers a range of housing, early education, out of home care and targeted early intervention services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Albury and surrounds.

Yerin Aboriginal Health Services Limited

Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services is a non-for-profit, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation and the only Aboriginal Medical Service on the Central Coast, Darkinjung Country.

Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services provides medical and dental care and education, mental health and alcohol and other drugs supports and intervention services, permanency support, family preservation, targeted youth support services, antenatal, postnatal and parenting support groups and support services, National Disability Insurance Scheme, chronic disease management (integrated team care) and wrap around homelessness care coordination through a transdisciplinary framework.