Welcome to AbSec
The Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care State Secretariat (NSW) is an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation.
The organisation is primarily funded by NSW Family and Community Services, and is recognised as the peak NSW Aboriginal body providing child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) policy advice to the government and non government sector on issues affecting Aboriginal families involved in child protection and OOHC system. AbSec also advises on funding decisions related to service provision by local Aboriginal community controlled organisations who provide or seek to provide Aboriginal child protection and associated services.
AbSec also auspices the Aboriginal Statewide Foster Care Support Service (ASFCSS). This service provides a free telephone advice and advocacy service for the carers of Aboriginal children and also assists in local communities in establishing Aboriginal foster carer support groups. For more information about the ASFCSS please click here.
The latest AbSec Brochure is now available, please click AbSec Brochure to download.
2013 Carer Recruitment Roadshow
The Training and Support Team has been co-ordinating the AbSec Carer Recruitment Roadshow 2013. The aim of the Roadshow has been to increase the awareness to our community about the need for more Aboriginal carers, as well as putting potential carers into contact with Aboriginal Out-of-home-care agencies and Family and Community Services for recruitment.
The Roadshow began in January 2013. To date we have attended approximately 19 Community events across the state.
AbSec appoints new CEO
AbSec is pleased to announce the appointment of their new Chief Executive Officer, Angela Webb.
Angela joined Absec in 2009 and has been instrumental in its growth over the past 4 years. She is a proud Aboriginal woman, from the Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung people of the mid north coast of NSW.
Angela made a brief statement saying "I am looking forward to new challenges of AbSec, especially working with skilled staff and the AbSec Board in the evolving OOHC & Child Protection sector. There is still much to do to for Aboriginal children and young people in NSW and in Australia more broadly. AbSec is committed to supporting our Aboriginal agencies providing culturally appropriate services to achieve better life outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and families. AbSec recognises that it is no one person or agency’s responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our children. The MOU that stands between Family & Community Services and AbSec is inclusive of the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Peaks, ACWA and agencies - whilst acknowledging that community based solutions are the real solutions. "
The Absec Board extend their support and said they will continue to work alongside Angela in partnership, to best meet the needs of our Aboriginal children and families.
Four new Aboriginal OOHC agencies endorsed
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward, hosted an event at Parliament House on Tuesday 26 March to present accreditation certificates to four of our (AbSec's) member agencies that have achieved accreditation with the NSW Children’s Guardian to commence providing out-of-home care.
AbSec's Strategic Plan
AbSec's Strategic Plan 2013 - 2016 has been released.
This document sets out our strategic direction and operations of the organisation over the next 3 years.
Our Vision:
5th Anniversary of the National Apology
AbSec celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the National Apology on Wednesday 13 February by taking members from the Stolen Generation, along with AbSec staff to Canberra.
The trip commenced on Tuesday 12 February where the girls were bused from Redfern to Queanbeyan for the Stolen Generations Council of NSW/ACT Board Meeting.
They then travelled to Canberra to attend Parliament House where various politicians spoke about the 1967 Referendum. The girls were invited to attended morning tea at Parliament House where Aunty Matilda House performed a Welcome to Country and Paul House played the didgeridoo.
A free concert celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the National Apology was held at Federation Mall, Parliament House. This was a fantastic event. Luke Carroll and Christine Anu were the MC’s and other great Aboriginal artists were included in the line up. Some of the performers included everyone’s favourite Archie Roach, Dan Sultan and Last Kinnection.
It was great to see Kevin Rudd amongst the crowd and everyone flocked to get photos and have a yarn. Kevin Rudd signed a copy of the artwork titled “Creaky” by Aunty Fay Clayton. The print is a cartoon impression of Kevin Rudd as Superman – which he found amusing and was forthcoming in signing. The artwork represents the Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls Home, symbolically a barb wired fence surrounding the home is cut to show the Girls freedom, and has Sorry written in the sky.
Aboriginal Relative-Kin Tracing Resources List.
AbSec has developed a brief listing of resources that may assist NGOs to locate relatives or kin of Aboriginal children and young people in care. It may also assist agencies to trace family history, cultural links or other information that may help children or young people gain knowledge about their cultural background. Click here to read List in full.
AJT update February 2013
To date the Aboriginal Jobs Together program is making great progress with 17 trainees and 7 cadets currently engaged in studies across NSW. Locations vary from Sydney, Grafton, Orange, and Griffith to name just a few with participants placed with NGO's in the community services sector.
State Training Services (STS), Aboriginal Employment Unit (AEU) have also been supporting our AEU Cadets and Trainees, providing mentors and training support.
AbSec recommends that the AJT project is rolled out after 30 June 2013 ensuring that our Aboriginal trainees and cadets have work place opportunities and skills to continue their career pathways.
New guide for carers
The booklet Moving to a new agency guide for carers should answer any questions that you have about Transition.