Darumbal Community Youth Service, Rockhampton

Supporting the full realisation of the right of First Nations Peoples to self-determination

In 2024–25, QCOSS strengthened its commitment to the rights of First Nations Peoples to self-determination. Guided by QCOSS’ Innovate RAP (2023-2025), activities included supporting the work of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) in their delivery of Queensland’s Youth Justice Peak, celebrating the work of community-controlled organisations, and laying the foundations for a First Nations Advisory Group to guide our policy and advocacy work.

Helem Yumba Central Queensland Healing Centre, Rockhampton

Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG), Cairns

Adapt Mentorship, Toowoomba

Highlights:

Collaborated on strong partnerships:
QCOSS collaborated closely with QATSICPP to support their work in delivering Queensland's Youth Justice Peak. Established in 2024, the Youth Justice Peak works with government, community service organisations and other key stakeholders to strengthen outcomes in the youth justice system. QCOSS has welcomed opportunities to work with QATSICPP in their engagement with community services, their development of evidence-based policy positions, and the establishment of their Youth Justice Sector Strategic Advisory Group.

Progressed QCOSS’ First Nations Advisory Group:
We advanced plans for this group, a central commitment in our Reconciliation Action Plan to provide culturally informed advice to the Board and support systemic reform across the social services sector. Partnering with Ninti Kata Consultancy, we conducted statewide consultations with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Native Title Representative Corporations and other stakeholders. Feedback highlighted support for a broadly mandated, culturally grounded, and diverse advisory body. The advisory group’s establishment is ongoing, with work continuing to build on the strong foundations laid in 2024–25 to support meaningful, culturally safe reform.

Consulted First Nations representatives on the DFV Peak Advisory Group:
Their participation has strengthened our understanding of how colonisation and discrimination have contributed to violence against women and children, reinforcing that First Nations self-determination must guide the establishment of Queensland’s DFV peak body and our work towards a safer, more equitable future.

Celebrated community-controlled organisations:
In Queensland, our community-controlled sector organisations work every day to deliver culturally safe and community-led ways of working, support identity and healing, and enhance connection to culture. We know communities hold the solutions to the challenges they face and through our external communications, we acknowledge and celebrate these organisations.

Hosted First Nations-focused events for the sector:
We held events highlighting the strengths of First Nations communities, including our Research and Evaluation Network webinar on using data for truth-telling, to work towards measuring community strengths, like cultural wealth, and how connection to Country and language strengthens wellbeing.