Nugel

The Nugel Program is the first of its kind in Australia where an Aboriginal organisation is taking full responsibility for Aboriginal children and young people on Children's Court protection orders.

Background

In 2017, VACCA began taking on the authorisation of children under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act. This section transfers responsibility for decision making and direct work with Aboriginal children and their families from Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Child Protection to an authorised Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).  

The program, known state-wide as ‘Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care’, was called ‘Nugel’ at VACCA, a Woiwurrung word that means “belong”.  

VACCA believes that Aboriginal children “belong” and have a sacred place at the centre of Aboriginal communities – they have a right to be seen; to be heard; to be nurtured; and to be safe. They have the right to know who they are, where they come from and where they belong. 

For the children that come into the Nugel program, the Children’s Court protection order will continue but DFFH Child Protection will no longer be involved. The Nugel case manager will take on the role that the Child Protection practitioner did previously, taking on the responsibility for decision making and case planning but with an Aboriginal-led approach.  

Program

Nugel offers a new model of Aboriginal-led, child protection practice where we work in partnership with Aboriginal families. We do this through bringing families together to identify the best possible supports to keep their children safe and to enable children to stay living with their them where possible.  

For children who are unable to live with their immediate families, Nugel will support Aboriginal family connections, connections to community and culture.  

Since launching, the program has already demonstrated improved results in reunification, parental involvement in decision making, keeping children connected to their culture, and better health and wellbeing outcomes for the children in the program.  

Importantly, Nugel believes in the principle of change, that families are constantly changing and growing, and will support families, where possible, to reunify with their children. 

As an authorised ACCO, VACCA effectively has responsibility for decision making and direct work with children and their families, including:  

• Case planning decisions
• Case management support
• Cultural support planning
• Support for children to remain with their families or where possible, to be safely reunited 
• Support for the child’s out-of-home care arrangement
• Referrals to support services at VACCA and to other organisations

We are dedicated to: 

• Bringing family together and listening to your story 
• Using family relationships to strengthen identity, culture and build resilience 
• Providing support to families to be safe and stay together where possible 
• Planning for safe reunification for families who are not together 
• Being led by family in relation to how they would like to spend time together 
• Connecting to culture and helping children grow up strong with the belief that culture starts with family. 

Resources

Nugel Information for Professionals 

Locations