Our Impact
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Our Model

The Centre of Excellence for

Aboriginal Families Wellbeing

Ensuring all Aboriginal families in Victoria are emotionally, spiritually and culturally strong – and live in safe, healthy and thriving Communities.

Putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families first 

VACCHO’s Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing is dedicated to advancing the rights and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families across Victoria.

Our work centres on Aboriginal families – not just children – acknowledging that Aboriginal families extend beyond the immediate nuclear unit to include extended family, clan and kinship networks, and the broader Community.

The Centre is committed to:

  • listening to, engaging with and championing the voices of Aboriginal families
  • creating and sharing practical resources to support families’ wellbeing
  • strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and mainstream organisations that support families
  • advocating for policy and system reform.

Principles that guide our work

Aboriginal families are strong, resilient, and rich in Culture. That’s the foundation everything here is built on. Our work honours Aboriginal models of parenting and child-rearing – practices that have kept families safe and strong for 65,000 years.

Everything we do continues that legacy. We do it by following these principles.

Cultural integrity and respect

Honour, preserve and revitalise Aboriginal cultural practices, languages, and traditions.

Recognise the unique strengths and wisdom embedded in Aboriginal ways of life.

Restoration of Power

Ensure families have a voice in shaping policies, programs and practices that affect them.

Equip families with the tools, resources, and skills needed to navigate challenges and thrive and that are aligned with their own values, aspirations and cultural contexts.

Amplifying Families’ Voices

Actively engage and listen to Aboriginal families to ensure their perspectives, needs, and aspirations guide the Centre’s programs and initiatives.

Provide platforms for families to share their experiences, knowledge, and solutions.

Community-Led Solutions

Foster a collaborative environment where Community members, leaders, and stakeholders actively contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of family-centred programs and approaches.

Empower Communities to drive positive change based on their unique strengths and aspirations.

Family-Centered Approach

Prioritise the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal families as the cornerstone of Community prosperity.

Acknowledge the interdependence and mutual support within extended family networks.

Our work

Take a look at some of the programs and projects we’re working on to support strong, resilient Aboriginal families.

Peeneyt Bubup podcast

In 2026, we heard that Kinship carers – those caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out-of-home care in Kinship arrangements – wanted tailored, culturally appropriate support, on their terms.

So we developed a 9-part podcast series to do just that.

The Peeneyt Bubup podcast, hosted by respected Elder and broadcaster Uncle Charles Pakana, features yarns with paediatricians, Knowledge Holders, kinship carers, psychologists and other experts. Each episode spans 30–40 minutes.

The first episode drops 21 August 2026 on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube – with remaining episodes dropped fortnightly.

The podcast responds to what Kinship carers and Aboriginal families have asked for: information that is Community-led, culturally grounded and actually useful.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Music
Watch on YouTube
Learn more

ACCO-led Pathways to Good Health project

Started in 2025, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO)-led Pathways to Good Health program – the first of its kind in Victoria – provides self-determined health and wellbeing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out-of-home care, their carers and families.

The Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing has supported the program’s implementation at three demonstration ACCOs:

  • Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)
  • Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation (MAC)
  • Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health.

Also a part of this project? Our Kinship Carers Health and Wellbeing Network, giving Kinship carers across Victoria a chance to connect and support one another. Their insights inform our work, including the Peeneyt Bubup podcast.

Learn more

Community events

Family Portraits

In 2025, we hosted two sessions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Victoria to get their portraits taken.

Held at the Aborigines Advancement League and the Collingwood flats, hundreds of Community members came along to pose – and took home their print and digital professional portraits.

It’s just another example of how we’re empowering and celebrating families.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are growing up in one of the most significant periods of change since colonisation and the 1967 referendum. They are the first generation to grow up in Victoria’s Treaty era. We’re here to make sure they’re supported on that journey.

That’s why we host annual community and family events to celebrate their strengths, knowledge and resilience.

It’s about putting families first and ensuring they are emotionally, spiritually and culturally strong. From a full day at Inflatable World, to a roller disco in an underground carpark – we host events where kids want to be.

Resources for families

Handy, practical resources for Community to support your and your families’ social, emotional and cultural wellbeing. Click the links to read and download.

The Early Days – A Guide for Kinship Carers

(coming soon)

Aboriginal SEWB Wheel in Action – A Guide for Kinship Carers

(coming soon)

Opinion piece: Our Children are the Treaty Generation

For Our Children and Families – Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing Call for Action

About the artwork

‘Empowering Generations: Celebrating the Strength of Aboriginal Families’

Created by Djab Wurrong and Kirrae Wurrong artist Tarni Jarvis.

The artwork brings to life Jill Gallagher’s vision of the strength of generations spanning 65,000 + years. Aboriginal families, their ancestors and future generations are represented in this inspiring piece where culture is honoured and celebrated.

Your voice matters.

Your feedback, insights and aspirations shape our work. Get in touch with our team, and tell us how the Centre for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing can support you, your family and your Community.

Share your feedback

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