Family Preservation Models and Frameworks

The Family Preservation program comprises of two frameworks, Families Together and Aboriginal Family Preservation, and three service models, Functional Family Therapy – Child Welfare (FFT-CW), Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST- CAN) and Nabu.

Families who will be eligible for Family Preservation are those families with a child or young person in the home who is 0-17 who is suspected to be at, or determined to be at, risk of significant harm (ROSH) using the same definition of that provided by s 23 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (the Care Act). Each model and framework has a specific suitability criteria to best meet the needs of the children, young people and families.

Family Preservation services are accessed through three primary referral pathways: DCJ allocated cases, DCJ triage, and community referrals. DCJ referrals account for 90 per cent of Family Preservation places and community referrals are capped at 10 per cent (MST-CAN referrals are accessed via DCJ pathways only). 

Referrers making a community referral must use the Family Preservation Community Referral Form, which sits outside the ChildStory system. The Family Preservation Community Referral Form can be found here (PDF, 212.4 KB).

Explore each model or framework below to discover more information, access key documents and resources and find service providers delivering each model or framework.