In this paper Ellen Fish, Leah Bromfield and Daryl Higgins explore this somewhat controversial phenomenon and discusses the implications of FIIC for practitioners working to protect children from harm.

There are significantly fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers than there are Indigenous children in out of home care. This report examines the recruitment, retention, training, assessment and support of Indigenous people caring for these children.

Since it was established in 2002, the Community Development Fund of the Telstra Foundation has directed nearly 30 per cent of its projects and funding to Indigenous community development. Fourteen of these projects are evaluated in this report. The report demonstrates that community-identified programs are creating positive opportunities for Australia's Indigenous children and young people.

Leah Bromfield and Daryl Higgins provide a comprehensive national snapshot of Australian statutory child protection services covering: who is responsible for child protection; intake procedures; who notifies concerns to child protection services; and the process of providing child protection services in Australian states and territories (intake, risk assessment, investigation and case management).