Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services

What Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services does

Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services (AACAFS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) established in 2021 and registered as a public company limited by guarantee with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. The organization delivers integrated child and family welfare services for vulnerable and at-risk Aboriginal children, young people, and families across all regions of New South Wales, structured into five business units: Child and Family Services, Innovation, Partnerships, Community Engagement, and Corporate Services.

AACAFS operates four interconnected core services: Emergency Placements (registered OOHC with Individual Placement Arrangements), Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing under the Family Voice Family Choice program, Casework Support (supervised contact, supervised transport, mentoring, respite on a fee-for-service basis), and Family Finding to reconnect children with kin and community. Service delivery is grounded in trauma-informed therapeutic models, Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing methodology, and culturally responsive practice frameworks rather than proprietary technology.

The revenue model combines multi-year government contracts with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, fee-for-service casework support to other providers, and donations leveraging Deductible Gift Recipient charity status. AACAFS holds NSW Office of Children's Guardian accreditation, ACNC charity registration, and NSWICC Assured Membership, and is governed by a majority Aboriginal board led by CEO Kerry Crawford and Chair John Simon.

Name

Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services

Legal name

Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services Limited

Website

https://aacafs.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation established in 2021 that delivers trauma-informed out-of-home care, Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing, casework support, and family finding services to vulnerable Aboriginal children and families across New South Wales, funded primarily by NSW DCJ contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Family Welfare Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM), Behavioral Support & Positive Behavior Intervention Childcare (HSAAAIAF)

Keywords

• Child protection services
• Out-of-home care
• Family group conferencing
• Aboriginal community services
• Family preservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Contracts: AACAFS receives government funding primarily through NSW Department of Communities and Justice for delivering out-of-home care services, Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing, and family support programs. Rates for DCJ cases are published, while non-Aboriginal service providers receive quotes.
2. Fee-for-Service Programs: Casework support services including supervised contact, supervised transport, mentoring and respite are provided on a fee-for-service basis to vulnerable children and young people in out-of-home care placements.
3. Donations and Charitable Support: As a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, AACAFS receives donations from the public and supporters who wish to contribute to improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AACAFS delivers Aboriginal-led child and family welfare services across NSW, including out-of-home care (Emergency Placements via Individual Placement Arrangements), Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing under the Family Voice Family Choice program, fee-for-service Casework Support (supervised contact, supervised transport, mentoring, respite), and Family Finding to reconnect Aboriginal children with kin and community. Services are trauma-informed and grounded in Aboriginal cultural practices, self-determination, and culturally safe therapeutic models, targeting vulnerable and at-risk Aboriginal children, young people, and families.

Product overview

AACAFS operates as a single-service organization providing integrated Aboriginal-focused child and family services. The core service portfolio includes four interconnected offerings: Emergency Placements (out-of-home care with Individual Placement Arrangements), Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing (Family Voice Family Choice program for culturally-grounded decision-making), Casework Support (supervised contact, transport, mentoring and respite), and Family Finding (reconnection services). These services work together to support, care for and protect vulnerable Aboriginal children and families while maintaining cultural connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Placements Out-of-home care service providing emergency placement arrangements for Aboriginal children. AACAFS is registered with the NSW Office of Children's Guardian and delivers Individual Placement Arrangements (IPAs) across NSW Metro and Regional areas for Aboriginal children requiring immediate out-of-home care.
• Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing (AFGC) Brings together family, kin, and community to make decisions about the care and protection of Aboriginal children. The Family Voice Family Choice program incorporates Aboriginal cultural values and practices, honoring principles of self-determination and collective decision-making. Service is offered to NSW Department of Communities and Justice at published rates and to non-Aboriginal service providers on quoted terms.
• Casework Support Fee-for-service program delivering supervised contact, supervised transport, mentoring, and respite to vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care placements.
• Family Finding Reestablishes family connections between Aboriginal children and their family, kin and community. Aims to nurture family bonds crucial for children's well-being and development, helping to reduce loneliness and enhance positive outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aboriginal children involved in ROSH reports are 7X more likely to be seen by DCJ caseworkers than non-Aboriginal children
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Uluru Statement from the HeartcoreOthersAACAFS is endorsed by and aligned with the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a historic consensus of Indigenous leaders seeking constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament. The organization promotes this statement as a touchstone document underpinning their approach to self-determination and truth-telling.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MacKillop Family Services: MacKillop Family Services delivers OOHC, residential care, and family services across multiple Australian states under Catholic auspices. Comparable to AACAFS in OOHC and casework support offerings but operates under a faith-based rather than ACCO governance model.
• Marist Youth Care: Marist Youth Care delivers OOHC, residential care, and youth support services in NSW and other states. Comparable in OOHC delivery and government contracting, though faith-based and not Aboriginal-led.
• OzChild: OzChild is a Victorian-based non-profit delivering OOHC, foster care, and family services. Comparable service portfolio to AACAFS, particularly in casework support and therapeutic family intervention, but without Aboriginal-led governance.
• Barnardo's Australia: Barnardo's Australia is a large national non-profit delivering OOHC, foster care, and family support across multiple states. It overlaps with AACAFS in OOHC and casework services but is not Aboriginal-led and competes for non-Aboriginal-specific tenders.
• Life Without Barriers: Life Without Barriers is one of Australia's largest non-profit OOHC and disability providers, delivering foster care, residential care, and family support nationwide. Comparable in OOHC service line and government contracting model but broader and non-Aboriginal-specific.

Direct peers

• Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care Secretariat NSW/ACT (AbSec): AbSec is the NSW/ACT peak body for Aboriginal child and family services and also provides direct ACCO service delivery. Comparable to AACAFS in ACCO status, Aboriginal-led governance, and NSW operating geography, with overlapping focus on OOHC reform and family preservation.
• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): VACCA is Victoria's peak Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation delivering OOHC, family services, and Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing-equivalent programs to Aboriginal children and families. It is the closest state-level analogue to AACAFS in another jurisdiction, with comparable service mix and ACCO governance.

Others

• SNAICC - National Voice for our Children: SNAICC is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family services. Not a direct delivery peer but the key sector advocate and policy counterpart for ACCOs like AACAFS, with the CEO holding prior board affiliation to SNAICC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aacafs

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Aboriginal Child and Family Services