A $44 Million funding boost has been provided to support at-risk First Nations families. 

The Federal Government has pledged a fresh funding injection to back a program tailored to provide place-based, community-driven assistance for these families and children, known as the Improving Multidisciplinary Responses (IMR) program.

Under the IMR program, the Department of Social Services will collaborate closely with First Nations representatives to co-design and execute the initiative. 

This cooperative approach seeks to ensure the active involvement of First Nations people through shared decision-making processes.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, who announced the program's funding distribution on Saturday, says that this allocation would be distributed among 15 organisations. 

The chosen recipients will employ the funds to deliver comprehensive services in culturally, geographically, and socially diverse communities. 

The main focus will be on addressing the complex needs of First Nations families and driving a community-led transformation.

Rishworth highlighted the diverse and intricate requirements of First Nations communities across Australia, underlining the importance of engaging local insights for effective support. 

She stressed that the government's role is to heed the voices of these communities, which possess a deep understanding of their unique contexts and aspirations.

Indigenous children in Australia face a significant challenge, being almost 12 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care or linked to child protection services. 

The IMR program is dedicated to achieving a notable reduction of 45 per cent in Indigenous children in out-of-home care by 2031, in alignment with the goals of Closing the Gap Target 12.

Ms Rishworth says that the focused investment through the IMR program will not only offer ongoing specialised care services to First Nations families but will also enhance existing support systems. S

Crucially, the IMR Grant recipients will collaborate with First Nations vendors to embed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP) into future service designs. 

This principle encompasses five essential elements: prevention, placement, participation, partnership, and connection.