This First 1000 Days Australia report confirms that service integration has enabled the two partner organisations to meet a broad range of needs for Aboriginal children and families, and to provide holistic and coordinated care.

SNAICC worked with University of Melbourne researchers and Palm Island and Toronto communities, government and mainstream services to better understand how integrated are able to meet the needs of families and children.

Key Findings:

• Aboriginal leadership is crucial to the development of a strong governance culture. Effective governance, leadership and the recognition of culture are essential in the social and economic development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
•  Aboriginal Child and Family Centres provide much more than services; they also give children and families a sense of belonging and identity, and are places for healing intergenerational trauma.
• There needs to be a whole-of-government commitment to advancing the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by establishing a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Years Strategy with updated targets and commitments for appropriate evaluation and measurement through Closing the Gap Refresh.