Aboriginal Family Support Services Ltd is a lead Aboriginal child protection agency in South Australia and plays a pivotal role in the care and protection of Aboriginal children and young people who come into contact with the child protection system. Celebrating over 45 years of working with Aboriginal communities, AFSS aspires to ‘build strong futures for Aboriginal children and young people in South Australia’. AFSS works hard to keep families together and helps them to build the capacity to grow up strong, healthy children and young people. Employing over 450 staff at over 30 locations across SA, AFSS’ broad range of services and programs aim to equip Aboriginal families with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate life’s challenges.
The Aboriginal Gambling Help Service is an education, awareness and support program for Aboriginal people and their families who are exposed to the harmful effects of gambling. Gambling Support Workers provide education, awareness and case work services and work closely with community and the gaming industry. Service provided in Berri, Murray Bridge, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln.
AFSS Cultural Consultants provide cultural advice, consultancy and advocacy on all child protection matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in South Australia. This includes formal responses to child protection orders and participation in Family Care Meetings. Service provided across South Australia.
The CS&W suite of programs equips families with the skills and knowledge they need to deal with life’s challenges. Structured programs are delivered by skilled facilitators with a focus on grief & loss, connection to culture, nutrition, health, wellbeing, routines and rules and parenting. Service provided across South Australia.
The AFSS Cultural Officer provides cultural services across AFSS such as cultural awareness training for carers and employees, cultural plans for Aboriginal children, assisting with carer assessments, cultural resources and organising cultural events and activities for children and young people, their carers and families.
AFSS provides Emergency Relief, mostly in the form of food vouchers, for families in need. Emergency Relief is provided in greater metropolitan Adelaide (Adelaide Plains, Barossa, Gawler, Light, Playford, Port Adelaide Enfield, Salisbury, and Tea Tree Gully), Coober Pedy and Mount Gambier.
Provide 24/7 residential services for Aboriginal children and young people who are under the guardianship of the Chief Executive (DCP). Support Workers actively engage in all elements of the lives of the Aboriginal children and young people in AFSS care, with a strong focus on safe home environments and connection to culture. AFSS operate a total of 23 Residential Services across South Australia.
Stability Post Care (SPC) are funded support packages designed to assist young people aged 18 to 21 years who are transitioning from care into independent adulthood. This period can be challenging, and SPC recognises that young people leaving care often require additional support to build stability, confidence, and life skills as they establish their independence.
The service provides support to young Aboriginal people aged 16 to 18 who are preparing to leave formal care arrangements. Services are provided in dual placement homes that are made available through a partnership with Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL). Young people are supported to build independent living skills and a solid foundation ensuring a successful experience post care. The young people remain in their homes after the AFSS support period ceases.
Placement and Support Packages are short-term, targeted support arrangements to meet the complex and immediate needs of children and young people in care. PaSP placements are designed for situations where a standard placement model may not adequately meet a child or young person’s needs. These packages provide a higher level of flexibility, structure, and support, allowing for tailored responses that prioritise safety, stability, and wellbeing.
Aboriginal Kinship Care is a state-wide, culturally responsive service providing kinship carers who care for Aboriginal children with assessment, support, advocacy, referrals and training. Kinship carers are supported to keep the children in their care safe, healthy and connected to their Aboriginal cultures and communities. Service provided across South Australia.
AFSS Foster Care Services recruit, assess, train and support both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to become carers for Aboriginal children and young people. This includes generalist foster carers and Specific Child Only carers for emergency, respite, short term and long term placements. Service provided across South Australia.
AFSS new Elder Care program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 to navigate the aged care system. Our specially trained, Aboriginal Elder Care Connectors make sure Elders are receiving the support, services and assistance they need, such as transport, home help, personal care, or just someone to yarn with.
The Family Domestic & Sexual Violence Program supports Aboriginal people in Coober Pedy who are experiencing, are impacted by, or are at risk of domestic and family violence or sexual violence. We offer safe, confidential, tailored and culturally respectful support, with a trauma-informed, healing-centred approach.
The FGCP offers a culturally safe, independent process for families to come together and create plans to address child protection concerns. The child focused plan seeks to involve all relevant family members and can draw in support from other community members or services as identified by the family. The FGCP supports families to lead, and be central to, decision making that will help to keep Aboriginal children safe in family, community and culture.
The program works with families – through the Together with Family, Reunification, and Intensive Family Support Service – to keep families together or, where Aboriginal children have been removed from families, to work with the family and other support services towards the children being reunified with their families. Service provided across South Australia.
The service provides crisis accommodation to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are 15 to 25 years old and who are at risk of, or who are, homeless. Clients are assisted with practical day-to-day supports. We work closely with Baptist Care SA to provide case management services to all clients (and their children).
This program engages with young Aboriginal people in Coober Pedy, encouraging and supporting them to participate in activities that focus on education, training and employment, life skills development, relationships and better connections to family, community and peers.
Tika Tirka is 20-bed apartment-style accommodation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote and outer regional communities who are studying in Adelaide. It allows young Aboriginal people to live and study independently in a metropolitan environment while fulfilling their cultural and heritage needs.
The Wardli-ana team works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing, or are at risk of homelessness, in partnership with Baptist Care. Our approach is trauma-informed and we respect people’s story, identity and healing journey. We understand that ‘home’ means connection to culture, community, kinship, Country and identity.
Reconnect works with young Aboriginal people aged 12 to 18 who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Youth Workers engage with young people and their families to strengthen relationships, improve the well-being of children and young people and strengthen family, community and cultural relationships. Service provided in Adelaide.
The Metro IFS teams attended the 2026 Statewide Practitioner Communities of Practice Forum held at the Morphettville Racecourse on Tuesday. This was the largest gathering
The AFSS Chairperson and Board of Directors advise the community of the upcoming retirement of our Chief Executive, Ms Sharron Williams, planned for 2026.