The Ministerial Aboriginal Partnership (MAP) Group met on Tuesday 29th July 2026 on Gadigal Country. On the agenda were: updates on the Minister’s nine commitments from the Aboriginal Child Safety and Wellbeing Forum; the out-of-home care reform timeline and work plan; Family Group Conferencing; ACCO Investment Strategy; Partnership Agreement; response to the Ombudsman’s ‘No Capacity to Allocate’ report; Active Efforts, and; delegated authority.
Minister Washington provided a regular update on her nine commitments. Members expressed concerns about a quarterly outcomes data update, and the MAP Group discussed potential options for the Minister to provide an update to Aboriginal community stakeholders on the nine commitments made in 2023.
The MAP Group was presented with the timeline and workplan for the redesign of out-of-home care programs, with members invited to attend upcoming consultation sessions.
The MAP group discussed the Family Group Conferencing improvement plan, and DCJ’s plans to enhance the program, with the MAP Group recognising the need for stronger cultural oversight of the program.
DCJ provided a progress update on its ACCO Investment Strategy. The Minister expressed commitment to the sustainable growth of ACCOs, with members discussing the need for dedicated ACCO workforce initiatives and longer-term funding contracts for the sector.
The MAP Group were provided a progress update on the work of the Partnership Agreement, between DCJ, AbSec, and the Aboriginal Legal Services (NSW/ACT). Members were provided an update on the Child Protection Assessment and Family is Culture project milestones, upcoming deliverables and community consultation.
The MAP Group discussed the 2024-25 Active Efforts Annual Report. The MAP Group acknowledged the report established baseline implementation data, and agreed on the benefit of including qualitative experiences of families and stakeholders in future reports.
The Minister provided an update on Commonwealth Safe and Supported discussions related to delegated authority, recognising sustainable growth of the ACCO sector as an important reform building block. The MAP Group acknowledged that further development is required to clarify how delegation is defined or could function in NSW. Members offered insight on the potential benefits for Aboriginal families for outcomes such as restoration.
