Family, culture and child inclusive practice

Family Group Conferencing principles recognise the importance of family and culture in a child’s life and the importance of drawing on kinship networks if a child’s primary caregivers require additional help. The process acknowledges that it takes a village to raise a child and includes the rights of the child in decisions that affect them.
The input of schools, welfare agencies and others is valued but not central to the decision-making. In Family Group Conferencing, the family decides how best to keep a child safe or create lasting positive change.

Family Group Conferencing is an independently facilitated, family-led decision-making process where a Family Group Conference Facilitator assists authorities and families in communicating concerns about a child or children. Families, usually including the young people, then make decisions and plan to overcome the issues and concerns in a way that maintains a connection to family and culture.