6 MARCH 2026
Important reforms to the Children, Youth and Families Act (CYFA, 2005) remove some substantial barriers that have prevented better outcomes for children in out-of-home care.
The Victorian Government passed amendments to the CYFA by the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Stability) Bill 2025 yesterday following consultation with VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency) and other Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) who have seen first-hand the harmful impacts of this punitive legislative regime.
Megan Van Den Berg, Acting Co-CEO of VACCA, said, “These changes provide greater flexibility and time for Aboriginal families to access the culturally appropriate, intensive and targeted supports that they need, ensuring children can be where they belong – with their families and community.”
“When you do the work with families and offer the right supports, children go home. This is the ultimate aim,” Ms Van Den Berg said.
VACCA is the lead Aboriginal child and family support organisation in Australia and one of four Aboriginal agencies in Victoria authorised with the functions and powers of the Secretary in relation to the protection of Aboriginal children.
Removing the 12-month maximum that children can be in out-of-home care before sole parental responsibility is transferred to the State, will ultimately divert more children from languishing in State care. This will allow decisions about the best available care at any point in time to include a consideration of a family’s changed circumstances.
VACCA provides culturally safe holistic programs that address the complex trauma and entrenched disadvantage that contributes to the continuously growing number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
An independent evaluation of VACCA’s exercise of the Secretary’s functions and powers found that the reunification rate of Aboriginal children on Family Reunification Orders was twice that of the Department of Families Fairness and Housing during the same time period and location. This comparative rate was noted by the Children’s Court of Victoria’s evidence to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, to be even higher in circumstances where Aboriginal children were on non-reunification orders.
Other amendments include removing adoption from the Act, acknowledging what we’ve always known: “To support the wellbeing and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children it’s imperative that they remain connected to family and community,” Ms Van Den Berg said.
There is more work to be done to fully realise Yoorrook’s child protection system recommendations to prevent further injustice and ensure cultural connection and safety for Aboriginal children.
VACCA looks forward to continuing to work with the Victorian Government and other ACCOs to support policy and legislation to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care, and pave the way to reunification.
- ENDS -
FOR RELEASE –
Simone Egger - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0472 505 780 E: simone.egger@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s peak voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for almost 50 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and to their children and young people who are the future elders and caretakers of this great land.