Better Place Australia’s Response to DSS ‘A New Approach to Programs for Children and Families’
On 23 October 2025, the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced proposed changes to family, children, and youth supports. These reforms respond to feedback that the current siloed approach can make service delivery challenging. The proposed model aims to reduce fragmentation, streamline administration, and strengthen outcomes-focused service delivery so providers can spend more time supporting families. You can read more about the proposed reforms here.
Better Place Australia welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Department of Social Services’ discussion paper, A New Approach to Programs for Children and Families. While we support a streamlined, outcomes-focused approach, the program must also reflect diverse family structures, offer flexible pathways across the life course, embed inclusive and culturally safe practices, and be developed through meaningful consultation with communities, services, and children. These steps are essential to deliver equitable, responsive, and effective support that builds on existing service strengths and meets the evolving needs of families and communities.
Read Better Place Australia’s response to the discussion questions.
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