Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids
At a glance
- Culture is a Birthright: Every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child has an inherent right to their culture, language, and community. Supporting these connections isn't just a "bonus"—it is a legal and emotional necessity that helps them grow up with a strong sense of identity and self-esteem.
- Family and Country are the Foundation: Identity for First Nations children comes from their relationships with kin and their connection to the land. As a carer, your role is to be a bridge, helping them maintain meaningful bonds with their family and participate in local community life.
- Nurture Health and "Deadly" Pride: Keeping kids strong involves both physical health (like regular health checks and immunisations) and emotional health. Celebrate "deadly" role models and local leaders to help them see their heritage as a source of immense power and potential.
- Be a Partner in Their Cultural Journey: You don’t have to have all the answers. Work closely with your caseworker, local Aboriginal organisations, and Elders to follow their Cultural Plan and attend significant events like NAIDOC Week or National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day.
Raising them strong
This guide was created together with Aboriginal foster and kinship carers, carer support workers, caseworkers and AbSec (the peak body in NSW that advocates for Aboriginal children, families and communities).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have connections to culture, community and Country that nurture and support their wellbeing, spirituality and sense of identity. It is important to the wellbeing of children and their families that these connections are maintained and strengthened. In the past, harsh and discriminatory government policies and practices, including the forced removal of children from their families, have led to loss, grief and feelings of injustice.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles aims to ensure that intervention into family life does not disconnect children from their family and culture. The principles aim to:
- recognise and protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, family members and communities in child welfare matters
- support self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in child welfare matters
- reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.
The general order for placement of an Aboriginal child or young person is with:
- a member of the extended family or kin group
- someone from their Aboriginal community
- someone from a nearby Aboriginal community
- a suitable person approved by the Secretary, after consulting the child or young person’s extended family or kin group or local Aboriginal organisations.
Where possible, the legislation, and DCJ policy and programs, support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being managed by an accredited Aboriginal community-controlled organisation delivering out-of-home care
Creating a Healthy, Happy Home Together
Welcoming a child into your home is the start of a shared journey, where the small, everyday rhythms of care build a foundation of safety and belonging.
Help the child feel safe and welcome from the moment they arrive
Gently show them around your home – where they’ll sleep, where the toilet is, and where they can find things like toys, the phone, TV or computer. Children often need information repeated, especially when they’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, so it’s okay to explain things more than once.
Share what life in your home looks like
Let them know about your routines – when you usually eat, bedtime, playtime, and what your family does during the week. This helps them understand what to expect and builds a sense of predictability and comfort.
Talk about family connection with care and clarity
Let the child know when they’ll be seeing or talking to their family, and check in gently about how they’re feeling. Follow the agreed plan with the caseworker or agency and make sure you’re clear about what’s happening. Keep conversations private and respectful – avoid sharing information through the “grapevine” or community chatter.
Always speak kindly about their parents and family
Children carry deep love and loyalty for their families. Don’t criticise their parents or ask lots of probing questions. Create space for the child to yarn about their family at their own pace, without shame or pressure.
Help the child stay connected to the people they care about
Encourage them to put up family photos or special items in their room so they can feel close to home, even while they’re staying with you.
Let them know they can come to you anytime
Explain who they can talk to – and even wake up at night – if they feel sick, have a bad dream, wet the bed, or feel worried. Reassure them that you’re there to support them and that they are not alone.
Learn what matters to them
When they’re ready, ask little things like what foods they enjoy or what they like doing for fun. Keep it relaxed so it doesn’t feel like an interview. These small moments help you get to know them and let them know they matter.
Respect their privacy and personal space
Let the child decide what they want to share about their story. Don’t pressure them to talk and don’t go through their belongings. Trust grows when children feel safe, respected and in control of their own story.
Checklist — Things to check with your caseworker and talk about with the child or young person
• Health needs
Ask your caseworker about any medicines, health needs or routines that help the child feel safe and well. When it feels right, you can also check in with the child or young person, depending on their age and ability, so they feel included in their own care.
• Important records
Ask, your casewoker provide the child's immunisation information, their Blue Book health record, or a copy of their birth certificate. This helps you make sure they get the care they need.
• Family connection
Talk with your caseworker about the child’s family contact arrangements and how these can happen safely and supportively. When you know the plan, explain it to the child calmly and simply, so they feel prepared and reassured and let them know they can share their feelings or preferences, so they feel included and have a say in what matters to them.
• Health check-ups
Work with your caseworker to organise a visit to the doctor and dentist for a general check-up. Let the child know you’re doing this to help keep them healthy - not because anything is wrong - so it feels routine and comforting rather than worrying.
Tell them you are there for them and want to help them.
Children and young people thrive when the adults around them create calm routines, offer guidance with kindness, and help them feel safe in their bodies. These everyday habits—what we eat, how we move, how we rest, and how we care for ourselves—build confidence, connection, and wellbeing.
Food and physical activity
Children may arrive with very different experiences around food. Some may feel anxious at mealtimes or prefer familiar foods. Go gently and take your time getting to know what helps them feel comfortable.
Start with simple conversations
- Ask what foods they like and don’t like.
- Check what meals they are used to and explain how your family usually does mealtimes.
- Offer reassurance—there is no pressure, and you’re learning together.
Healthy habits that support wellbeing
- Provide plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Home-cooked food is often cheaper and nourishing.
- Encourage water as the main drink and avoid fizzy drinks and sugary juices.
- Save hot chips and takeaway as an occasional treat.
- Make sure they get enough rest—bedtimes that match their age help them grow and stay well.
- Turn off screens and get moving together: walking, swimming, bike riding or kicking a ball around.
- If they are interested, explore local sports or dance groups. Team activities can build confidence and belonging.
Turn off the TV, get kids walking!
Keep kids well and get them immunised.
Under the National Immunisation Program, people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent can access free vaccinations that provide protection against some of the most harmful infectious diseases that cause severe illness and deaths in our communities.
It’s free and can be done at your local GP or Aboriginal medical service. For more information, visit the Immunise Australia Program website or download the National immunisation program schedule.
You can get a copy of the child immunisation details at any time through:
- Medicare online accounts
- by requesting a statement through Medicare Australia website: “Immunisation History Statement”
- at your local Medicare Service Centre
- by calling the Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged six months to less than five years are eligible for a free flu shot.
Free flu vaccines are also available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over and children aged five to 15 years who have a special medical condition that increases their chances of catching the flu.
Free flu vaccines are available through community controlled Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), state/territory immunisation clinics and your GP.
🔗 Explore:
Frequently asked questions about influenza vaccination for health professionals
Aboriginal Medical Services Redfern
There are many government and non-government organisations and services available to carers. Some:
- help keeps children connected to culture, Country and community.
- provides culturally safe support for carers.
- supports family tracing, healing and reconnection.
- improve health, education and wellbeing outcomes.
- help strengthen Aboriginal self-determination and community leadership.
Keeping connected to culture
Family is the foundation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and supporting your child or young person’s connections to culture also means maintaining meaningful relationships with people in their family and wider community. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the idea of ‘family’ extends to all those involved in a child’s life including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and members of the community
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child specifically deals with the need for children from Indigenous backgrounds to maintain contact with their community. It states that ‘… a child belonging to such a minority or who is Indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language.’
Your child or young person’s cultural rights can only be enjoyed in full when they are able to connect and socialise with other members of their cultural group, including family.
Particular effort should be made to connect Aboriginal children and young people with the cultural observances of their communities and their nation.
Getting along to and being part of cultural events is one way for kids to gain an understanding about:
- the value and sense of belonging to an Aboriginal community
- the practices and ceremonies that maintain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
- how diverse groups of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders see themselves
- how to pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and heritage
- how to gain the respect and understanding of others and the broader community through sharing pride for culture.
Understanding and accurately recording a child or young person’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity is a critical part of supporting their connection to culture, family and community. Early and respectful conversations about identity help guide culturally informed decisions, strengthen connections, and support a child’s sense of belonging, pride and wellbeing.
It’s important not to make assumptions—identity should be explored through ongoing conversations with the child, their family and community, and supported by active efforts and cultural consultation. This information plays a key role in casework, planning and ensuring children remain connected to their culture in meaningful ways.
| Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yabun Festival | 26 January | A vibrant annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Sydney. It features live music, arts, and cultural activities for the whole family. yabun.org.au |
| Apology Anniversary | 13 February | Marks the anniversary of the 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations. It is a day for local events that acknowledge the past and celebrate the resilience of First Nations peoples. reconciliation.org.au |
| National Harmony Day | 21 March | A day to celebrate our diverse society and promote a sense of belonging for everyone. The orange ribbon worn on this day is a symbol of anti-racism and goodwill. harmony.gov.au |
| National Sorry Day | 26 May | A day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations survivors and reflect on the impact of past policies that forcibly removed children from their families. reconciliation.org.au |
| National Reconciliation Week | 27 May to 3 June | A week to learn about our shared histories and explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation. It marks the anniversaries of the 1967 Referendum and the Mabo decision. reconciliation.org.au |
| Mabo Day | 3 June | Commemorates the 1992 High Court decision led by Eddie Mabo, which recognized the Native Title rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of Australia. |
| Laura Quinkan Dance Festival | June or July (Bi-annual) | A major celebration of Indigenous dance and culture held on Cape York, fostering community spirit and cultural pride. lauradancefestival.com |
| Coming of the Light Festival | 1 July | A significant day for Torres Strait Islander communities marking the arrival of the London Missionary Society in 1871. Celebrated with religious and cultural ceremonies. tsra.gov.au |
| NAIDOC Week | July | A nationwide celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many local communities hold events throughout the month. naidoc.org.au |
| National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day | 4 August | A special time for families to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children. It highlights the importance of family and community in every child's life. aboriginalchildrensday.com.au |
| International Day of the World’s Indigenous People | 9 August | A United Nations day dedicated to raising awareness and finding solutions to challenges faced by Indigenous populations globally. |
| Torres Strait Cultural & Music Festival | September (Bi-annual) | Held on Thursday Island, this festival alternates between a focus on traditional culture and contemporary music. tsra.gov.au |
Tip for Carers: Use this table as a guide to plan outings or activities with the child in your care. Attending these events together is a wonderful way to support their cultural identity and build a sense of belonging.
Aboriginal children and young people have a right to be raised in their own culture. They have a right to learn and use the languages and customs of their communities and to take part in a wide range of cultural activities.
If an Aboriginal child or young person enters out-of-home care, then they must have a cultural plan that keeps them connected to their family, community and Country. A cultural plan is part of the overall Care Plan for an Aboriginal child or young person.
An Aboriginal child or young person who is being managed by a non-Aboriginal NGO must have their cultural plan approved by the Aboriginal community. This can be an Aboriginal community controlled organisation, a recognised Aboriginal organisation, or a respected member of the Aboriginal community.
Like with other children and young people in out-of-home care, a Care Plan for an Aboriginal child or young person will use placement principles. However, placement principles for Aboriginal children are different. The focus is on placing them within their biological family, extended family, local Aboriginal community or broader Aboriginal community. This approach is provided for under New South Wales child protection laws.
A cultural plan should:
- identify the cultural needs of an Aboriginal child or young person
- outline how the child or young person can experience their culture to maintain their identity and their connection to family, community and Country
- help make sure that important cultural and family information is maintained for any child who is too young to contribute to their own plan.
A cultural plan should have all the information that is known about the child or young person’s culture. The child’s family and close kin must be involved in creating and implementing it.
It’s important for non-Aboriginal carers to promote and support a child or young person’s positive connections with family, community, culture and identity. Having a good understanding yourself of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and beliefs, and access to tools and resources will help. Talk to your caseworker or agency and local Aboriginal organisations about ways to make and maintain connections.
The value of cultural connections
Cultural connections are fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids. Ask your caseworker about your child or young person’s Cultural Plan and work together to meet the goals outlined there.
From time to time, ask your child questions about their language, stories and cultural practices. If they don’t always know the answers, help them connect with people who can teach them more. • caring.childstory.nsw.gov.au The
- Support the child or young person to maintain contact with their family, community and culture.
- Explore opportunities for them to visit and spend time in their community or on their traditional land.
- Talk positively and regularly about their family and community.
- Gather as much information as possible about their community.
- Identify significant people in their life who can assist in maintaining links.
- Network with Aboriginal carers, workers and services in your local area.
- Attend local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural community events.
- Acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of Australia.
- Talk to the child or young person about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags about what they represent.
- Seek out story books and child-friendly TV shows and movies that reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
- Encourage your child to connect with nature and the bush. Connect the child with history and traditional relationships with land through resources such as; Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (aiatsis.gov.au), National Parks and Wildlife and the Australian Museum (australian.museum) websites
- Play and listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music.
- Start or continue a 🔗 My Life Story book
- Visit absec.org.au and naidoc.org.au for resources
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander My Life Story Book is given to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who enter out-of-home care .
Children and young people can use the My Life Story Book to collect personal and cultural information. My Life Story Book is designed for you and the child or young person in your care to work on together. It allows them to map and record family connections, which helps to promote identity and maintain connections.
Life Story work helps kids’ sense of self and belonging. The book will also be important for the child when they become an adult, as it provides information about their childhood experiences and achievements.
🔗 download My Life Story Book - Aboriginal version (PDF 11.61MB)
Resources for Aboriginal carers
Supporting Aboriginal kinship and foster carers – these resource feature practical information and advice to help carers and parents with the challenges of raising children and young people.
🔗 Explore:
Raising Them Strong Topic Cards – covers health, education, family contact and support.
The Raising Them Strong booklet offers support for Aboriginal foster and kinship carers. It covers topics such as health, education, grief and loss, family contact and navigating ‘the system’ - part of the Raising Them Strong support package.
Raising Them Strong: Caring Together - Caring for kids with a disability has information for carers who care for an Aboriginal child or young person who has a disability. It covers settling children with disabilities into your family and talking with them, specialist support staff and teachers about how to give them the care and attention they need.
Raising Them Strong Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 are videos on the Keeping Koori Kids Connected - Why We Need Aboriginal Foster Carers - "real life" scenarios and carer stories.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Booris (PDF, 1.7 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format and uses words from the Wandanian and Dharawal languages.
🔗 Darkinyung Yada Gudjagang: Strong Healthy Kids (PDF, 1.3 MB) features Darkinyung language and talks about how we can help gudjagang to grow up strong by spending time with them.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Wonai (PDF, 1.6 MB) features language from both the Awabakal and Worimi people and talks about how we can help our burray and wonai to grow up strong by spending time with them.
🔗 Happy Gamambi, Healthy Dhalayi, Strong Burray (PDF, 2.0 MB) offers information about child development and includes words from 3 Aboriginal languages - Gumbaynggirr, Dhanggati and Gathang
🔗 Growing up Strong Cuchicums (PDF, 1.3 MB) contains ideas about activities for children and basic child development information using words from the Guringai and Dharug languages.
🔗 Deadly Healthy Bubs (PDF, 1.7 MB) includes information about what bubs do at different stages, ideas about things we can do with our bubs, games and activities. It also includes a list of contacts where you can find support.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Kooris (PDF, 1.4 MB) offers basic child development information and ideas for activities and games parents can play to help little Kooris grow up strong.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Booris (PDF, 1.9 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format and uses words from the Dhurga language, which is 1 of the 4 dialects used by the Djuwin (Yuin) people.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Guring (PDF, 1.3 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format and uses words from the Eora language.
🔗 Growing up Strong and Healthy Bubs (PDF, 2.9 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format and uses words from the Dharug language.
🔗 Doordarnbee Muggy Jarjums: Growing Up Strong Jarjums (PDF, 1.2 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format and incorporates the Bundjalung language and Yaegl dialect.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Birrali and Gundanoo (PDF, 2.7 MB) is a resource for Aboriginal and Family Workers in the Far West NSW region of Goodooga and surrounding districts.
🔗 Kiilalaana marta-marri – Growing up really big in Barkindji (PDF, 1.9 MB) is a resource for Aboriginal and Family Workers in the Far West NSW region of Broken Hill and surrounding districts.
🔗 Bubaa Ngambaa Gaayili, Father Mother Child (PDF, 1.4 MB) offers basic child development information in a simple format incorporating the Gamilaraay and Nganyawana languages.
🔗 Growing Up Strong Buraay (PDF, 1.3 MB) offers information on children's behaviour and how best to care for them, together with ideas for simple games and activities, incorporating Wiradjuri language terms.
🔗 Explore: Information sheets for Aboriginal dads with children 0 to 6 months (PDF, 387.2 KB), 6 to 12 months (PDF, 529.3 KB), 1 to 3 years (PDF, 434.1 KB), 3 to 5 years (PDF, 430.9 KB) and 5 to 8 years (PDF, 491.3 KB).