Aboriginal-led family support program wins national award

Monday, 27 October 2025

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has won a prestigious Gold Award at the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards for its groundbreaking Family Advisor Unit (FAU). 

The FAU provides a new, culturally-led model of support for families with complex and frequent contact with government services. Staffed by senior Aboriginal practitioners, FAU acts as a single point of contact to help families navigate the child protection and justice systems. 

The unit works collaboratively with families and caseworkers to develop holistic, family-centred case plans that honour cultural needs and empower families to achieve their own goals. 

FAU was one of four winners in the Public Sector Service Design category for its project: ‘Helping Families Overcome Entrenchment Through Aboriginal Ways.’

The team’s winning entry was selected from a highly competitive field, recognised for its innovative, culturally grounded approach to supporting Aboriginal families and communities. 

The project demonstrates leadership in systemic accountability and service design, embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing into public sector practice. 

One of the longest-running international design recognition programs, the Australian Good Design Awards celebrate excellence in design and innovation across diverse sectors. 

This year’s theme, ‘Design for Better’ highlights the vital role design plays in shaping a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable world. 

DCJ Secretary Michael Tidball said:

"Congratulations to the Family Advisor Unit on such an incredible achievement. 

"Your commitment to culturally safe approaches has not only improved outcomes for Aboriginal children and families – it has set a benchmark for service delivery across the sector.

"Thank you for your immense contributions.”

DCJ Executive Director Transforming Aboriginal Outcomes Bianca Jarrett said:

“This award is a powerful validation of DCJ’s commitment to Aboriginal self-determination and leadership in service reform. 

"This isn’t just an award; it’s proof that when we empower Aboriginal people to design the solutions for their own communities, we achieve incredible results. 

“The Family Advisor Unit is transforming lives by putting culture and community at the heart of our work. We are immensely proud of the team for this well-deserved recognition.”

2025 Australian Good Design Awards Jury said:

“The Family Advisor Unit uses traditional methodologies to bring about innovation in the public service. This service is future-focused, relational and practical. It reflects a worldview often excluded from service delivery and brings it forward with conviction. This is an outstanding example of service design grounded in cultural leadership, place-based knowledge, and systemic accountability. 

“The approach is not only appropriate, it is exemplary. The design process respectfully centres Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing, translating deep storytelling and lived experience into an operational model that works across silos.

“This project sets a high bar for how public services can build trust and transform from within.”