In 2022-23, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants (aged under 1) were eight times more likely to receive child protection services compared to non-Indigenous infants in Australia. And at 30 June 2023, 41% of the out-of-home population in Australia were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies, children and young people, a number that keeps rising. Unless we create new ways to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to stay together during the perinatal period, we will continue to have escalating numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and children in care.

This oral presentation presents some of the findings of a co-design research project to develop a culturally-safe ‘Wise Counsel’ model of care to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families during pregnancy and post-birth when child protection is involved. Led by a team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, and supported by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group in addition to strong Aboriginal governance, this co-design project sought to develop a model that could create a safe, self-determining space to provide meaningful, family-centered, trauma-informed support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and families at risk of child protection involvement during pregnancy and post-birth. 
The challenges associated with co-designing this model of care will be discussed, alongside systemic considerations that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, and Aboriginal and non-Indigenous professionals and stakeholders felt were important to account for alongside the development of the Wise Counsel model itself. The values and principles underpinning the model will also be described.

This presentation will be of interest to child and family welfare practitioners, allied health professionals, researchers and policy makers. Delegates will hear about the complexities associated with child protection practice involving infants, and the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and families during pregnancy when child protection is involved.