The Family Preservation Recommissioning Journey

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has worked with the sector and other partners since mid 2022 to redesign the Family Preservation service system in NSW and released a range of supporting publications. This is a significant recommissioning process, shaped by extensive consultation, collaboration and continuous learning to better meet the needs of children, young people and families.

To support greater understanding of the new Family Preservation system, please read the Family Preservation Key Systems Changes Fact Sheet (PDF, 194.3 KB) which has been developed to outline key system changes. This fact sheet has been designed to provide a clear, consistent overview of the most significant and relevant changes for the sector and organisations that interact with service providers.

In November 2022, a series of workshops were held by DCJ with a range of practice and operational representatives from DCJ districts, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and non-ACCO Family Preservation service providers across NSW. The workshops generated discussion and elicited reflections on the challenges and common problems with the service system, examples of good practice, and ideas for system improvements. The extensive feedback was analysed by the Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR) team within DCJ and published in a Family Preservation What We Heard paper.

DCJ also partnered with AbSec to deliver 'Listen and Learn' workshops, held in person and on Country, with Aboriginal stakeholders, ACCOs and DCJ staff. This feedback was jointly analysed by both AbSec and DCJ and published in the  Aboriginal Family Preservation What We Heard paper 

The vision for a new Family Preservation system in NSW was then set out in the Redesigning Family Preservation in NSW Discussion paper released in April 2024 which reflected a shared commitment to bold, system wide reform. Informed by extensive engagement with ACCOs, non-ACCO service providers, DCJ districts, peak bodies, and government partners, the vision was then refined through sector feedback and captured in the Finalising the Foundational Elements paper which was released in December 2024.

Following the release of this paper, the Family Preservation Program Specifications paper was released.  The Program Specifications outlined the objectives, target groups, services to be delivered and program outcomes for the redesigned Family Preservation program. The Program Specifications were iterated and may be amended through the life of the program. 

In May 2025, DCJ then released the Family Preservation Funding Approach paper which outlined the NSW Government’s commitment to invest $900 million over five years in Family Preservation. The funding approach was designed to be transparent and equitable, ensuring resources were directed to where they were needed most, with allocation proportionate to assessed need across districts. It was driven by child protection needs analysis data and included a 40 per cent ACCO investment target ($350 million over five years). Five-year contracts and sustainable unit costs provided security for service providers, supported by dedicated implementation funding.

The Transitioning to the New Family Preservation System paper was released in November 2025, which outlined DCJ’s strategic approach to leading the transition from current to future state, working alongside current and future service providers to make sure families and the workforce were supported through the process. The paper included the guiding principles, objectives, key phases of work, roles and responsibilities, and governance arrangements necessary to achieve a successful transition.

In June 2026, DCJ released the Family Preservation Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan set out DCJ’s approach to supporting the rollout of the new system in a managed and staged way. The plan was developed in consultation with peak bodies and feedback from the sector. It provided a practical roadmap to help service providers deliver high-quality services from day one, and ensure families and staff are supported throughout the contract period.