Submission

Overview

In September 2026, The Salvation Army made a submission to the Department of Social Services on the Safe and Supported Second Action Plans. The submission highlights the need for policy and service reforms that place children, young people, and families at the centre of decision-making. It calls for sustained investment in prevention and early intervention, stronger service integration, culturally safe and community-led approaches, and greater inclusion of lived experience in policy, program design and evaluation. The submission presents 23 recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for children and families and addressing the structural barriers that contribute to disadvantage. 

 
Key Points 

• Supporting children, young people and families early. We discuss the need to ensure services are specialised, accessible and acknowledge diversity, as well as the need for long-term flexible funding models.  
• Services and system coordination. We point to the need for integrated services, partnerships and collaboration across services and sectors, and improved system navigation for children, young people and their families.  
• Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. We discuss the need to adequately fund Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), invest in strong partnerships between ACCOs and the wider service sector, and build cultural competency.  
• Workforce capability and cultural safety. We highlight the importance of strategic workforce planning and investment, and enhanced workforce confidence and capability.  
• Children and young people’s perspective and participation. We point to the need to embed the voices of children and young people both in the Second Action Plans, and in the programs and services they are accessing.  
• Accountability, data and measuring progress. We discuss the importance of empowering organisations in data collection and outcomes measurement, and embedding the voices of children and young people in these processes.