Understanding how Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs) are enacting new statutory authority in child welfare decision making: An initial process evaluation of the Community Protecting Boorais Program

VACCA has led the work on transforming the Victorian child welfare system from a state-led system to an Aboriginal Community of Care model centred on culture, self-determination, human rights, and the rights of children. Recent legislative, funding and program reform has allowed Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs) to have responsibility to care for and keep Aboriginal children safe. The project is a process evaluation of Community Protecting Boorais that seeks to examine how the transfer of authority to ACCOs is being implemented, including how responsibility is being conceptualised, what this means for practice, and the skills, processes and resources needed to realise this new way of working. This will complement existing research seeking to examine and improve Aboriginal child and family services, transforming child protection systems by, for and of.