All governments agree that all children and young people in Australia have the right to grow up safe, connected and supported in their family, community and culture. They have the right to grow up in an environment that enables them to reach their full potential.

Through Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 (Safe and Supported) the Australian Government, state and territory governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and the non-government sector are working together towards the shared goal of making significant and sustained progress in reducing the rate of child abuse and neglect and its intergenerational impacts.

Safe and Supported sets out how governments and the non-government sector will work together to help children, young people and families who need support, particularly those who are experiencing disadvantage or are vulnerable to abuse or neglect. It sets out a 10-year strategy to improve the lives of children, young people and families experiencing disadvantage or who are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. It will drive change through collective effort across governments and sectors that impact the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Safe and Supported is for all Australian children, young people and families, with a targeted focus on 4 priority groups that experience disadvantage or are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Achieving safety and wellbeing outcomes for these families will help Safe and Supported achieve its goal. Safe and Supported will improve outcomes for these groups through actions in 4 focus areas.

Safe and Supported will be supported by 2 sets of Action Plans: The Safe and Supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan (Action Plan), in parallel with this Safe and Supported: First Action Plan, outlines the scope of activity from 2023 to 2026.

This First Action Plan (Action Plan) addresses the needs of all Australian children. It has a targeted approach, with a focus on children and families who are experiencing disadvantage and/or are vulnerable. This includes an emphasis on the 4 priority groups under Safe and Supported.

This Action Plan is a living document, that can respond to emerging evidence and issues from reports, including relevant royal commissions such as the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. There will be a strong focus on monitoring implementation and measuring progress of Safe and Supported. To support this, the Outcomes Frameworks outline what we aim to achieve through the activities under Safe and Supported. The Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy will provide a way to regularly monitor and publicly report on progress towards the overarching goal.