Communities and Justice

Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Expansion Program

young girl colouring in. Text overlaid that reads 'Exciting opportunities for ACCOs'

We're making progress on the important work of building more Aboriginal Child and Family Centres (ACFCs) in NSW.

New centres are being delivered in locations across NSW with plans for them to open from early 2027. 

How the ACFC Expansion Program is delivered

The information below steps out how we will deliver the new ACFCs.

Where the new ACFCs will be located

In 2023 we engaged PWC Indigenous Consulting (now Yamagigu Consulting, Deloitte) to identify priority locations for new ACFCs.  

PWC Indigenous Consulting consulted with key stakeholders, including government, subject matter experts, ACFC operators, peak bodies, Aboriginal Regional Alliances, and various Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and prepared a report for us, which identified a list of priority locations, and a process for selecting the final ACFC locations.

A procurement process was recommended to allow ACCOs to submit their proposals to deliver an ACFC in the priority locations, and to enable us to consider ACCOs willingness and readiness to deliver an ACFC service.

We have progressed a Request for Proposal process via two Rounds (Round 1 and Round 2).

Round 2

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Round 2 is now open.

We recognise that there is significant need and demand for ACFCs across the state and a second round of the Request for Proposal process has commenced in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):

  • Kempsey
  • Maitland
  • Mid-Coast
  • Moree Plains
  • Penrith
  • Tamworth.

Please note, a maximum of two ACFCs can be awarded as part of the Round 2 RFP.

How to apply

Round 2 opened Tuesday 20 May 2025 and will close Friday 1 August 2025, 3pm AEST.

Eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) interested in establishing and operating an ACFC in the Round 2 locations are encouraged to apply. ACCOs will be required to submit their proposed site as part of their proposal.

Request for Proposal forms can be accessed on the buy.nsw website: https://buy.nsw.gov.au/prcOpportunity/A1F2418D-9FB0-48FF-B0B2DE1D5F9CAD3A

Round 1

The Round 1 Request for Proposal process was open to the ACCO market in August-September 2024. We will announce the successful ACCOs and locations shortly.

Round 1 proposals were sought for the following Local Government Areas:

  • Bourke
  • Broken Hill
  • Central Coast
  • Central Darling
  • Coonamble
  • Orange
  • Walgett.

ACFC Expansion Program Delivery

The following information steps out the phases for delivering the ACFC Expansion Program.

Selection and award

An open, competitive procurement process will be undertaken in priority locations to select the ACCOs to operate the new ACFCs and to identify sites where the new ACFCs will be built.

Contracts for the service delivery (Human Services Agreement) and capital build (Capital Funding Agreement) will be finalised with the preferred proponents.

Design and establishment

Following award of the new ACFCs, detailed designs will be prepared in partnership with the successful ACCOs consistent with the ACFC concept design and ACFC Program Guidelines and Specifications (PDF, 590.5 KB).

Once the detailed designs are completed, Development Applications will be submitted and procurement for the construction of the ACFCs will be released.

We will also be working closely with the successful ACCOs to prepare for service delivery.

Delivery

The construction of ACFCs will commence, and once completed the ACFC assets will be handed over to the ACCO to operate as set out in agreed contracts.

We will also be working closely with the ACCOs to finalise arrangements for the opening of their ACFC service.

Service operational

ACFCs commence service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. Learn more about the services the ACFCs provide on the ACFC webpage.

ACFC Program Guidelines and Specification and Appendix

More information

For more information about the ACFC Expansion Program, please email the team: ACFCIA@dcj.nsw.gov.au

General information about ACFCs can be found on the DCJ website.

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