From 30 March 2012, this clearinghouse will be amalgamated into Child Family Community Australia (CFCA Information Exchange). For more information see the CFCA Information Exchange FAQ
Indigenous families - Resources
Information and resources relevant to practitioners working with indigenous families. Suggestions for additional resources are always welcome, please contact AFRC.
Updated 18 August 2011
On this page
Trends and statistics
A statistical overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia
Based on 2006 Census data, this collection of statistics from the Australian Human Rights Commission has been chosen to highlight the current situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia across a range of indicators including: health; education; employment; housing; contact with criminal justice and welfare systems.
The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
This release provides a comprehensive statistical overview, largely at the national level, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and welfare. It comprises a series of articles produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Topics at a glance: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
In 2010, the ABS developed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Framework in order to identify data gaps and areas for statistical improvement. This framework encompasses nine domains that have been incorporated into the layout of this information portal – Population; Culture, Heritage and Leisure; Family, Kinship and Community; Health; Education, Learning and Skills; Customary, Voluntary and Paid Work; Income and Economic Resources; Housing, Infrastructure and Services; Law and Justice; Citizenship and Governance.
Indigenous Observatory – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Indigenous observatory is a new online repository of information on the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The observatory will feature key statistical reports, interesting fact sheets, and information updates on Indigenous health and welfare. All materials will be available for downloading free of charge.
The city and the bush: indigenous wellbeing across remoteness areas
This release, in the Australian Social Trends series from the ABS, looks at the differences in circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in major cities, regional areas and remote areas.
Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2011
In April 2002, the Council of Australian Governments commissioned the Steering Committee to produce a regular report against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage. This report is to inform Australian governments about whether policy programs and interventions are achieving positive outcomes for Indigenous people. This will help guide where further work is needed.
Footprints in Time: The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children
This study aims to improve the understanding of, and policy response to, the diverse circumstances faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and communities. The study collects important information about the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, covering areas including the children, the children's families, the children's communities and service delivery.
Working with Indigenous families
A book designed to support Family Relationship Services to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and organisations. The PDF version of the book can be downloaded at (URL below) or a hard copy can be purchased via the SNAICC website.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
This web site will help you to improve understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and social reality, and seeing the implications for service delivery and community development.
Winagay Resources promotes the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and communities and shapes best practice in the development of culturally appropriate resources and training.
Children and Family lead agencies/peak bodies
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)
SNAICC is the national non-government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The SNAICC Resource Service (SRS) seeks to fill resource gaps identified across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and children’s services sector and provide a central information sharing clearinghouse. The SRS hosts resources, information on conferences, projects, training and workshops and yarning topics.
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAICH)
QAIHC is the state peak body representing the Community Controlled Health Sector in Queensland at both state and national level. Its membership comprises 19 Community Controlled Health Services (CCHS) located throughout Queensland.
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
VACCA is a statewide Aboriginal community controlled and operated service established by our community in 1977. VACCA was given the responsibility by their community to promote, advocate and achieve positive changes in the lives of Aboriginal children, young people, their families and their community premised on human rights, self determination, cultural respect and safety.
Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi – Doing Good Work for Families
Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation is a community-based organisation, working with Aboriginal families in remote Central Australia.
Government services
To celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievement and keep Indigenous Australians informed on important programs, services and policies, the Australian Government’s Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has the indigenous.gov.au website. This website is accompanied by
- a current affairs magazine, titled Indigenous Newslines, published four times a year, and
- a current affairs radio program, titled Newslines Radio, produced every week.
Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse
The aim of the clearinghouse is to promote discussion and disseminate relevant Indigenous justice information to government policy makers and those working in the Indigenous justice field.
This clearinghouse provides access to a collection of information on what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage.
Health
Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (ADAC) - SA
ADAC helps to ensure the development of effective programs to reduce harm related to substance misuse in Aboriginal communities. This mission will be carried out principally as an information and advisory centre for the Aboriginal community, the wider community and to relevant professionals and institutions, on substance misuse issues.
Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC)
This body provides health and health related services for aboriginal communities and comprises 60 NSW Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet makes comprehensive, up-to-date information accessible to people interested in the health of Indigenous Australians. It provides a range of resources. Information is available on data sources, current research, theses, full text material, research findings and bibliographic data.
The Lowitja Institute, Australia’s National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research, is an innovative research body that brings together Aboriginal organisations, academic institutions and government agencies to facilitate collaborative, evidence-based research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The Institute will host the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (CRCATSIH) until June 2014. After that time, the Institute will fund research and implement programs in its own right, thereby providing a permanent organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research.
The guidelines have been produced using a rigorous research method that involved extensive consultation with Aboriginal people and have been endorsed by Aboriginal mental health experts as culturally appropriate. Guidelines are available for depression, psychosis, trauma and problem drinking, as well cultural considerations and communication techniques.
Drug Info – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
This webpage, on the Australian Drug Foundation’s “Drug Info” website, includes key statistics on alcohol and drug use, relevant publications and a link to the Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) “Indigenous communities” topic centre
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
NACCHO is the national peak Aboriginal health body representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services throughout Australia.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation - (ANTaR's) booklet of Success Stories in Indigenous Health shows that indigenous-led health care initiatives often get the best results. The stories demonstrate that progress in improving Indigenous health is achieved when there is significant engagement with the Indigenous communities concerned and appropriate funding and support provided.
Key reports and publications
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Bringing them home: The 'Stolen Children' report
Inquiry into the Child Protection System in the Northern Territory 2010
National Indigenous Reform Agreement (Closing The Gap) (PDF 623 KB)
National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (PDF 1.2 MB)
The Framework includes Supporting outcome 5: Indigenous children are supported and safe in their families and communities
Indigenous children are supported and safe in strong, thriving families and communities to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children in child protection systems. For those Indigenous children in child protection systems, culturally appropriate care and support is provided to enhance their wellbeing.
Parenting
Family Action Centre - Indigenous programs for fathers
The Family Action Centre has a growing commitment to supporting indigenous communities and service organisations to deliver strength based approaches when working with families.
Hey, Dad! For indigenous dads, uncles and pops - Evaluation report (PDF 679 KB)
Parenting SA – Aboriginal parent easy guide
Parenting and child health – Family & relationships
Information for parents on a wide range of family and relationship issues, and how they affect the development of children and young people. Specific guides for Aboriginal families are available.
Parentlink Parenting Guides – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent
Easy-to-read information on many of the issues faced by parents from birth through to adolescence. There is also a copy of the “Growing Healthy Families” booklet available to download.
Learning with Family (PDF 3.2 MB)
The Families as First Teachers–Indigenous Parenting Support Services program builds family knowledge of early learning. Resources have been developed, including this booklet, that give families information about how young children learn and how parents can make the most of everyday opportunities.
You're a dad: 7 storylines about being a dad
A 20 page A5 full colour booklet for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers and young men, to encourage positive images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in their roles in the lives of their children and provide parenting information to engage and support men in their children’s development and wellbeing. The booklet accompanies the poster series, which includes five national posters and three sets of local posters of five participating men's community groups from around Australia. There is also a facilitator's guide for developing a local parenting and men poster project.