The framework provides a roadmap for mainstream organisations to transition out-of-home care services to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), placing self-determination, cultural authority and community control at the centre of child and family services. The aim is to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities design, govern and control the services that impact their children and families.

It is a call for governments and the broader service system to shift power, funding and accountability to ACCOs so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are supported through culturally grounded, self-determined and community-controlled services. This has shown to get better results for children in child protection systems and more likely to see those children returned to Country and kin. The framework also aligns with the national reform commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and works to strengthen the ACCO Sector.

The principles translate the call for self-determination and cultural responsivity into actionable steps by supporting service transitions, equitable partnerships, strong governance and workforce development, and system reform. They are designed to help communities, governments, mainstream organisations and philanthropy to move beyond consultation to genuine power sharing and long-term investment. By applying these principles, transformation moves from policy ambition to lived change.

Core principles

• Commitment to self-determination
• Community control
• Cultural safety and responsiveness
• Structural reform
• Justice and accountability
• Collaborative partnerships
• Capacity building.