Kinship care is not simply a placement option. For many children, it is the difference between being removed from everything familiar and staying connected to family, culture, community and identity.
During Kinship Care Week 2026, our Solicitor Director, Neisha Shepherd, shared a message for everyone who works with and cares for children: be a strong voice for them. Here is what that means in practice, and why it matters in care and protection matters.
What is kinship care?
Kinship care is when a child who cannot live with their parents is raised by extended family or community. That might be grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings or other family members who step in, often at very short notice, to give a child safety, stability and a sense of belonging.
As a children’s lawyer, Neisha has seen the enormous commitment these kinship carers make. They reorganise their lives, homes, finances and futures to care for a child they love.
Why kinship care carries deeper significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
As SNAICC reminds us, kinship care isn’t new. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities have cared for children through kinship networks for generations.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, connection to family, Country, culture and community is not an extra to be considered once a placement decision has been made. It is fundamental to identity and wellbeing.
The law reflects this. In NSW, the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 sets out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young Persons Principle. It includes the child’s right to grow up within their own family, community and culture, the participation of the child and their family in decisions, and the right to be supported to maintain connection to family, community, culture and Country.
When an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child needs out-of-home care, the Act also sets a placement order. Placement with the child’s extended family or kinship group comes first, followed by their community, then other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander families living nearby. There are exceptions, including some emergency and short-term placements.
Kinship carers deserve support
Recognising kinship carers goes beyond gratitude. Carers who take on this role deserve meaningful support, proper resourcing, and a genuine voice in the systems around the children they care for.
If you are a kinship carer, you may have questions about what your role means legally, how decisions are made, or how to be heard in a Children’s Court matter in NSW. Getting advice early can help you understand your options and feel more confident in the process.
How a child protection lawyer can help
A child protection lawyer can help families and carers understand their rights and responsibilities, and how care and protection proceedings work. Neisha is an Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law, and she advocates strongly for children to be cared for by their kin.
Children need more than somewhere to live. They need connection. They need identity. They need belonging.