Our Way strategy

Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017–2037 ((PDF, 5 MB))

is the Queensland Government's long-term commitment in partnership with Family Matters Queensland and the Queensland First Children and Families Board to eliminate the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the child protection system in Queensland and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.

The Queensland Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector are progressing a range of initiatives under Our Way to build a culturally responsive child and family support system where services are designed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families. Self-determination is at the heart of these initiatives to ensure Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations participate in and have control over decisions that affect their children and family.

Our Way is delivered through a series of seven action plans, Changing Tracks (2017–2022), Breaking Cycles (2023–2031) and Hitting Targets (2032–2037).

To realise our vision that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people grow up safe, loved and cared for in family, community and culture, Our Way and the action plans must align to national and state initiatives and strategies and leverage their efforts. At a national level, Our Way supports the Queensland Government commitments to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2021–2031, and Queensland's Path to Treaty and Local Thriving Communities initiative.

Changing Tracks 2017–2022

Changing Tracks: an action plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families 2017–2019 ((PDF, 4.3 MB)) and 2020–2022 ((PDF, 4.9 MB)) 2020–2022 ((DOCX, 4.3 MB)) set the foundation for change focusing on the systems and policy settings required to achieve the Our Way vision.

Breaking Cycles 2023-2031

Breaking Cycles builds on the foundations for transformational change in the child protection system set under Changing Tracks with a focus on changing the way that services are designed, developed and delivered with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage.

Breaking Cycles: An action plan: co-designing, developing and implementing services with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2023–2025 ((PDF, 4.5 MB)) Breaking Cycles: An action plan: co-designing, developing and implementing services with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2023–2025 ((DOCX, 192 KB)) will be delivered in partnership with Queensland Government agencies and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family support sector.

Hitting Targets 2032–2033

Hitting Targets will focus on a further incremental approach to reach targets.

Monitoring and evaluation

In June 2020, the department engaged Deloitte, Murawin and the Social Research Centre to conduct an independent evaluation of Our Way and Changing Tracks action plans.

The independent evaluation of Our Way, Changing Tracks included:

• Evaluation of Our Way, Changing Tracks – Final report ((PDF, 2.2 MB)) Evaluation of Our Way, Changing Tracks – Final report ((DOCX, 2 MB)) – this report outlines the impact and outcomes from the first implementation phase of Our Wayand Changing Tracks action plans and presents future focus areas to guide the development of the second implementation phase, Breaking Cycles.
• Theory of Change ((PDF, 258 KB)) and Program Logic ((PDF, 125 KB)) – these will inform a further shared understanding among partners regarding their role in the future success of Our Way to achieve transformational change to eliminate the disproportionate overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection in Queensland by 2037.

The Our Way Changing Tracks Evaluation Final Report, the Theory of Change and Program Logic were considered in conjunction with the extensive consultations conducted across government, the sector and community to inform the co-design of Breaking Cycles 2023–2025 ((PDF, 4.5 MB)) Breaking Cycles 2023–2025 ((DOCX, 192 KB)).