The Kambu Health Family Participation Program (FPP) is here to help you and your kin in a culturally respectful and flexible way during your journey with the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.

The FPP services support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to participate in significant child protection decisions that affect your lives.

The FPP function is distinct from, but closely associated with the support function of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services.

Families who are assisted to participate in decision making processes are also likely to require support to address child safety concerns and to implement the action plans they have developed.

It is expected that families assisted through the FPP service will be offered access to the full range of supports available through Family Wellbeing Services (FWS).

The FPP initiative aims to:

• give effect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s right to self-determination

• facilitate shared decision-making involving parents and families at different phases of their involvement in the child protection system

• develop family-based solutions that provide for the safety of children, whether at home or in care.

It is intended that by empowering families in decision making processes and activating appropriate support networks, the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can be achieved within family, community, and culture.

Kambu Health Family Participation Program is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with children and young people under 18 years in the Ipswich region who have child safety involvement.

Child Safety may refer families to FPP for ATSIFLDM processes at any point in the child protection continuum.

Families can also self-refer at any point in which they need assistance to be involved in decision making with Child Safety about their children.

Mob can contact their Child Safety Officer or their Cultural Practice Advisor who will refer them to our service, or they can use the self-referral link: https://familysupportreferral.org.au

No, the Kambu Health Family Participation Program is free.

A key function of FPP is the facilitation of independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family led decision making (ATSIFLDM).

The FPP seeks to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, children and young people to actively participate in child protection decisions that affect them and give effect to the principle that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to self-determination, and to support the practical application of the five core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP).

• Prevention - that a child has the right to be brought up within the child’s own family and community

• Participation - that a child and the child’s parents and family members have the right to

participate in an administrative or judicial process for making a significant decision about a child

• Partnership - that Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons have the right to participate in significant decisions under the Child Protection Act 1999 about Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, including the design and delivery of programs and services

• Placement - that if a child is to be placed in care, the child has a right to be placed with a member of the child’s family group

• Connection - that a child has a right to be supported to develop and maintain a connection with the child’s family, community, culture, traditions, and language.

You can contact the Kambu Health FPP team by email: fpp@kambuhealth.com.au or phone: (07) 3810 3030.