Grant funding to help strengthen family connections for vulnerable Toowoomba children

A Toowoomba organisation that works with families to help keep them together and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the care system has received Queensland Government funding of $175,000 to help turn their ideas into reality.

Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement was one of six organisations to receive funding under the latest round of Empowering Families Innovation Grants.

“These grants are an important investment in ideas seeking to transform life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - from local projects or early-stage ideas right through to larger-scale implementation-ready projects,” Ms Farmer said

“This second round of grants was for projects that focused on home support, family reunification, foster care recruitment, family finder services as well as innovative approaches to enable the voices of children and families to be heard.

“The Back Tracks – Kids and Kin project will help establish kinship and community connection for Indigenous children in the care system who are not living with family.

“The organisation will make contact with the child’s extended family to help establish links for each child and to begin a reconciliation process.

“I am delighted that Back Tracks – Kids and Kin project has received funding that will help keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children safe, well and connected to family, kin, culture and country.”

Ms Farmer said the grants contributed to Our Way: a generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and the Changing Tracks Action Plan which has committed $6 million over three years to reduce the disproportionate representation of child and young people in the care system.

“The Queensland Government’s goal is to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the care system and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families experiencing vulnerability.

“The Empowering Families Innovation Grants help us come up with new ways to draw on the strengths, capabilities and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, communities and organisations.”

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Media Contact:                      Ron Goodman                        0427 781 920