NSW Invests $350M to Keep Indigenous Families Together

Tarnika Steward was 33 when she realized her years-long battle with addiction might cost her another child. Two of her children had already been removed by child protection services, and she refused to let it happen again.

"I was like, 'Nup, I'm getting old. I'm not losing another baby,'" she said.

After getting treatment, Steward connected with Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation in Sydney's southwest. The organization runs parenting programs, women's healing groups, and camps designed specifically for Indigenous families facing child removal. Her caseworkers helped her find secure housing and rebuild her life.

Today, her child protection file is closed. "I'm so happy and he's a happy baby too," she said.

Now, Tharawal's success story is getting supercharged. The New South Wales government just announced a $350 million investment to expand the Aboriginal Family Preservation program to more than 20 other Aboriginal community-controlled organizations across the state.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Indigenous children make up 46 percent of kids in out-of-home care in NSW, despite being a small fraction of the population. They're more than 10 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to enter foster care.

The new funding will give more than 4,000 at-risk families access to therapeutic services and culturally appropriate support. Tharawal alone will double its team, adding five caseworkers and two program officers who help families with everything from parenting skills to finding childcare.

Why This Inspires

This investment represents something crucial that's been missing: Indigenous communities designing solutions for their own families. Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said previous services failed because they lacked Aboriginal input and often sent families to programs that didn't match their needs.

Kim Bell, who manages Tharawal's program, sees the funding as a chance to "prevent another stolen generation." Her approach focuses on keeping families connected to culture and community. "It takes a community to raise a child, and I love being part of their community," she said.

The program works because it treats families holistically. Caseworkers don't just check boxes. They build relationships, connect parents to healing groups, and help children access dental care and other services.

For Steward, the transformation extends beyond her youngest son. She's reconnected with her other children and become more involved in their lives. She's planning to attend another parents' camp through Tharawal and continues participating in the women's healing group.

"It makes me feel on top of the world," she said.