Government-funded services are intended to support individuals and families to have choices and aspirations, to be resilient and capable, and to realise their potential. Government can provide this support through universal services in areas such as health, early childhood and education. It can also provide safety net support (such as social housing and welfare payments) for those in need, and services to help people overcome barriers (such as family support, and targeted services such as drug and alcohol services). The core idea is not that government does things for families; rather, that it enables families to do things for themselves.

For example, much of a person’s significant early development occurs in and around the home, which means family support and involvement is the key determinant of later success. Even as we get older, and our learning takes place in more institutional settings such as schools, that family component remains a powerful influence on our personal growth.

In the long-term, the family is far more important than government in shaping a child’s life and future.

That said, government can make major improvements to the ways in which it supports families to succeed, particularly in regional and remote areas. As part of regional services reform, the State Government will innovate in service delivery to respond better to the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal families and communities. The Government is prepared to look at new approaches, strategies and experimentation to produce improved results.

Innovation will also involve building new partnerships and strengthening ways of working with Aboriginal communities and organisations, the Commonwealth Government, local government, the not-for-profit sector and the private sector, which all play roles in funding and delivering services.