It has been identified that the most vulnerable cohort in society are children in out of home care, who experience increased significant negative effects on development, health, and wellbeing (Raman et al. 2017). Current data collected in 2019 (ABSEC, 2020), revealed that two in five children in NSW OOHC identify as Aboriginal, which infers an Aboriginal child is nine times more likely to enter OOHC in NSW when compared to a non-Aboriginal child; this represents an 8.8% increase since 2015. Davis (2019) argued that the OOHC system compounded the experience of trauma for Aboriginal children/young people in care, resulting in ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma, and further compromising their ability to parent in the future.

In October 2017, LINKS Trauma Healing Service (LINKS THS) commenced a 3-year pilot project in response to an independent review of the OOHC system (Tune 2015) which concluded the current system was ineffective and unsustainable, and programs were not culturally aligned with Aboriginal children/young people and their family’s needs.

Data from the final LINKS THS service evaluation in June 2020, reported successful outcomes for Aboriginal children/young people in reducing trauma symptoms, stabilising placements, improving psychological health and wellbeing, and culturally responding to family restorations. It has been widely acknowledged that a strength of the service was the use of a multidisciplinary team and the inclusion of Aboriginal clinicians. Service delivery was adapted for the inclusion of culturally competent programs and resources guided by the SEWB framework.

This presentation will outline the integration of clinical and non-clinical services under the SEWB framework to deliver meaningful and culturally appropriate interventions for Aboriginal people and young people in NSW OOHC.