Please be advised there may be pictures of Aboriginal community members who have passed, and these may cause some distress.
Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM) Program
The AFLDM program works jointly with Child Protection and Aboriginal families. The Family Conveners support children, families and child protection to empower families to make family focused decisions and plans for children involved with Child Protection. Even though child protection joins the AFLDM, the Family Convener is a GGAC practitioner who will guide the discussions and planning. The Family Convener will support all participants to actively engage in planning and decision-making process. An AFLDM provides a safe (physical, emotional and cultural) environment that builds robust plans for the care and protection of children.
Early intervention Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making Program
This is a pilot service that is currently being trialled by Goolum Goolum and Echuca’s Njernda Aboriginal Corporation. The service is like the AFLDM program but aims to have a family led meeting instead of Child Protection commencing an investigation. The aim is to work with families to build a plan of safety without the need for Child Protection intervention. Referrals can be received from Child Protection Intake, family services, families referring themselves and The Orange Door.
FPRR Program
The Family Preservation and Reunification Response program provides intensive and coordinated family support to children and families. The FPR program aims to build strong and healthy families where children and their parents/carers are supported to provide a safe and nurturing home environment. The FPR program provides family support to children and families who are vulnerable and likely to be the subject of a Family Preservation Order, or families where the children are not in parents care and the case plan is to reunify children with their parents.
Aboriginal Integrated Family Services Program
IFS is a program providing family to support to children and families with children aged from pre-natal to 17 years of age. The level of support provided to families is determined based on the family’s support needs. The intention of the IFS program is to minimise harm and develop the family’s strengths to get to a stage of self-management without the involvement of Child Protection where possible. IFS uses a strengths-based approach using a comprehensive needs and risk assessment framework to develop a Family Action Plan.
Aboriginal Kinship Care Program
Aboriginal Kinship Care is provided to an Aboriginal child by relatives, friends or a community member when the child cannot live with parents. Connection to Aboriginal culture is pivotal to a child’s safety, stability and development. There are different types of kinships care including:
- Statutory kinship care occurs where Child Protection intervention has determined a child cannot reside with parents and is required to reside in an alternative placement.
- Informal kinship care occurs when a child resides with friends or relatives with the parent’s agreement without child protection intervention.
Where children do not live at home and are placed in the care of a family member, they are living in a kinship placement in Out of Home Care (OoHC). OoHC have a number of services available to children and their carers including:
Family Violence
Our family violence program provides support to Aboriginal individuals, children and families who are or have experienced family violence. The program can offer immediate support to reduce risk and help people achieve safety. The program can also provide ongoing case management to support people to remain safe.
The Orange Door is a new service delivery model due to open in the Wimmera in 2022 and provides an integrated response to new reports of family violence occurring or families struggling with parenting. GGAC will work with directly in the Orange Door to ensure Aboriginal people and their families are supported.
Therapeutic interventions
Recognising the needs of community, we provide therapeutic interventions aimed at healing and building skills with members of the community. The interventions provided can work with an individual or with a group of people. The therapeutic intervention space is continuously growing and currently provides the following programs:
- Women’s groups aimed at empowering females and building a sense of safety, self-esteem and community connections.
- Cooking lessons to build peoples ability to care for themselves and their families.
- Parenting program for parents due to have a baby who would like to build their knowledge and skills prior to, or just after the birth of their baby. The program explores infants emotional and physical needs and how as a parent you can support your baby’s growth and development safely. The program explores relationships, alcohol and drugs, play, family violence and attachment.
- Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) and Bringing Them Home. The program provides support to community members to have a yarn, engage in activities and receive general support. The program can offer regular sessions or one off support.
We'd love to hear from you
Contact Us
Contact Us
43 Hamilton Street
Horsham, VIC 3400
reception@goolumgoolum.org.au
Medical Centre
Contact the clinic:
Nurse on call: 1300 606 024
For emergency medical assistance please call 000
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Cooperative would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners whom fall into Goolum Goolum’s service area, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Jupagulk and Wergaia peoples and pay respects to their ancestors and Elders past and present.