Support grows for national movement to keep children connected to family, culture and community
4 August 2026
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day celebrates the strength, culture and potential of First Nations children and young people, while highlighting the importance of staying connected to family, community and culture.
For Allies for Children, this year's Children's Day theme, Living Our Truth, grows our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to have the opportunity to grow up connected to family, culture and community and learn from those who pass on knowledge, stories and traditions.
Across Australia, almost 23,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are currently living in out-of-home care, making them around 10 times more likely to be in care than non-Indigenous children.
We know children have better outcomes when they remain connected to family, community and culture. Yet more than half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care are currently supported by non-Indigenous service providers.
Allies for Children brings together organisations responsible for the care of around 1,980 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children nationwide, representing more than 15 per cent of Australia's child and family services sector.
Working alongside the First Nations NGO Alliance and Aboriginal-led organisations that support children, families, and communities - Allies for Children is helping to:
• Safely reunite more children with family wherever possible
• Strengthen children's connections to culture, Country and community
• Support Aboriginal-led organisations to play a greater role in caring for Aboriginal children and families.
Allies for Children has also welcomed Uniting NSW/ACT as its newest partner, strengthening a growing national movement committed to ensuring more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are cared for by Aboriginal-led services.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the right to grow up connected to family, culture, community and Country.
As a member of the First Nations NGO Alliance and through our work with Allies for Children, we know lasting change happens when Aboriginal-led organisations are supported to lead decisions about children, families and communities.
Joining Allies for Children reflects Uniting’s commitment to walking alongside Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and contributing to a future where more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can remain connected to the people, culture and communities that help them thrive.”
Together with the First Nations NGO Alliance and SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, Allies for Children is supporting changes aimed at reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering out-of-home care and helping more children stay connected to family, community and culture.
As Australia marks Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day, Allies for Children is encouraging more service providers to join this work and take practical action to support Aboriginal-led solutions and stronger futures for First Nations children.
Allies for Children Chair, Maree Walk, said:
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children need to be celebrated for their strengths and their role in continuing the world's oldest living culture.
“We know that when children are supported to grow up strong in their identity and culture, they are better placed to thrive. That's why our work with ACCOs is so important. Over the next five years to key dates in Close the Gap Target 12, we are mobilising our partnership to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care.
“Welcoming Uniting NSW.ACT to Allies for Children strengthens that commitment and helps build momentum for lasting change."