H.O.M.E Family Mentoring

"Keeping our children HOME, in community"

Our H.O.M.E mentors support families who are at risk of removal or have experienced removal of their child or children by DCJ (previously DOCS/FACS).

Our team of specialised staff offer support, advocacy and mentoring for each family. Examples of this include attending meetings with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and legal supports, court hearings, referrals for counselling, parenting programs, attending medical appointments and assistance with rehabilitation referrals. We walk side by side our families to help them create a stronger and connected family. 

We believe using culture as an avenue for healing can lead to a stronger family connection and better lifestyle choices. Everything we do is underpinned by connection to culture, community, healing and well-being.

Our mentors are here to help families navigate the child protection system which ensures that each family feels empowered and informed about the process, their rights and responsibilities when it comes to restoration or preservation. We know that the best place for our children to be, is with their families in community. We believe in ensuring parents voices are heard and are apart of the decision making process when it comes to their children.

We understand the significant effects inter-generational trauma and the child protection system continues to have on our people. We are dedicated to ending the over representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system.

Just 6.4% of children in NSW are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Yet they make up 43.7% of children-in-care in NSW.

In the Sydney region alone, Aboriginal children and young people are 48x more likely to enter OOHC (out-of-home-care) than non-Aboriginal children and young people. This is the highest across NSW.

Our program addresses core requirements under law, international resolutions and national and state policies. These include:

• The Family is Culture Review Report
• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Target 12 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031
• Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our Future Report

*Data taken from NSW Government Aboriginal-led Data Sharing: Child Protection and Out-of-home Care statistics and Australian Government Productivity Commission Report on Government Services 2023.