OOHC reform progress and future directions

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Policies, practice and progress paves the way for a successful OOHC reform journey in 2025 and beyond.
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group photo of two young aboriginal adults and and aboriginal boy and girl
Building on the access of the kinship care pilot will be a key focus in 2025.

As we move into 2025, the Out of Home Care (OOHC) reform journey in Western Australia (WA) builds on the significant strides made in 2024, setting the stage for a brighter future for children and families.

Partnerships with the sector, especially Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), have been fundamental to the reform process. These collaborations have enabled the introduction of new care programs, the development of policies, and improvements to properties.

It’s been over a year since the Department of Communities awarded contracts to 16 new service providers to deliver out of home care services in WA, including five new ACCOs. This move showcased the Department’s commitment to working closely with Aboriginal communities to develop and support Aboriginal family carers across the State.

One of the Department’s proudest achievements last year was the implementation of kinship care. The first group of kinship carers was embedded as part of the Family Carer Assessment Pilot, a key component of a broader initiative to strengthen kinship care and increase the capacity of ACCOs to support and manage family carers within their communities.

In 2025, there will be a continued focus on strengthening relationships with ACCOs, recruiting and supporting family carers, and improving the assessment process to ensure culturally safe care. Collaboration with ACCOs is critical in providing culturally appropriate, family-based care for Aboriginal children and families, building on the success of the kinship care pilot.

More than 500 carer households moved into the new block funded program in 2024. In this program, providers are awarded a number of placements to provide care arrangements at a fixed rate base cost. Several agencies successfully transitioned children safely with the support of specialised teams at Communities. The shift to block funding has been crucial for scaling the OOHC system, ensuring it can meet growing demand and provide care to more children.

The transition of care arrangements will continue throughout 2025, with efforts focused on reducing the individualised care arrangements and placing more children in family environments. Support and coordination across districts will ensure these transitions remain on track.

New temporary care homes and group foster care homes were purchased and established, providing additional fully furnished, ready-to-use properties, expanding capacity in the system. Existing properties were upgraded to meet the revised OOHC Specification Standards, ensuring the long-term safety and suitability of properties in this portfolio. A new Property Management Guide has been developed, with renovation works expected to be completed this year.

New growth in the system will see additional places purchased in 2025, supporting districts and case workers with more flexibility and suitable care types available for children.

Enhancements in critical policy development have provided clearer guidance and improved OOHC service delivery. Key changes to Care Arrangement Support Costs, Short Break Care, Additional Funding, One Referral Pathway, and Care Arrangement Types have ensured the sector is equipped with the right tools and frameworks to provide high-quality care. Collaboration with sector partners has been essential in developing these policies, particularly the Care Arrangement Support Costs Policy, which draws from valuable insights gained through consultations with service providers on the ground.

Moving forward, measuring impact to drive continuous improvement will remain a key priority. The finalisation of a Theory of Change, Program Logic document, and key outcomes, all created in collaboration with service providers and stakeholders, will guide this effort. The first formal evaluation is scheduled for the first half of this year to inform ongoing improvements and refinements to the OOHC system.

The Department of Communities thanks all agencies and partners involved in this reform journey who have been instrumental in achieving these milestones and building a better OOHC system for the children and families of Western Australia.

For more information please visit Reforming OOHC services.

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