Victoria repeals harmful laws that permanently separated families
4 March 2026
A major shift for children and families in Victoria begins
Women’s Legal Service Victoria (Women’s Legal) welcomes the Victorian Parliament’s repeal of harmful permanency laws in the child protection system through the passing of the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Stability)Bill 2025. This marks a step toward a more just, family‑centred and responsive child protection system.
Over the last ten years, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), the legal assistance sector and frontline community organisations have warned that rigid permanency timelines were causing avoidable and permanent family separation. These reforms begin to repair that harm by centring the needs of children and their families and recognising the importance of cultural, familial and community connection.
Parents will now be given the necessary time to respond to safety concerns. The new laws recognise the real-world challenges parents face in securing stable housing, accessing Centrelink, the NDIS and other vital support services. Importantly the Children’s Court will be empowered to act in the best interests of children and consider the nuances of each case.
“For the last 10 years Women’s Legal has worked together with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations, the legal assistance sector, and frontline services to advocate for these changes,” Women’s Legal CEO Claudia Fatone said.
This reform delivers long-overdue changes that put children’s wellbeing and family connections at the centre of decision-making in the child protection system.
Victoria continues to have the highest rate of removal of Aboriginal children from their families. These reforms go some of the way to addressing the concerns raised by our sectors and are a necessary step toward implementing Recommendation 25 of the Yoorrook for Justice Report.
What this means for children and their families
- Courts are empowered to keep families together
The Children’s Court can now give parents more time to reunify with their children when it's in the child's best interests. This recognises the many delays parents face in accessing supports such as housing, Centrelink and NDIS.
- The threat of adoption is removed
Child Protection can no longer make adoption a “case plan goal”, removing the government’s power to put a child up for adoption without parental consent. This prevents unnecessary and permanent family separation unless parents choose adoption voluntarily.
- Children’s stability and belonging is now put first
Decision-makers must now consider the full wellbeing of a child including their legal, cultural, relational and physical needs, rather than viewing stability only through fixed living arrangements.
- The importance of family and culture is now acknowledged
Children do better when connected to their families, culture, faith, and identity. These reforms can help embed that principle into child protection decision-making.
A win for children, families and communities
“This change marks a turning point. Repealing these permanency laws removes a major driver of unnecessary family separation and brings Victoria closer to a child protection system that prioritises wellbeing, connection and safety.
Families have fought for this for years. We know Women’s Legal clients will experience a sense of relief and clarity as we continue to support them through the child protection system.”
Our ongoing commitment
Women's Legal thanks the Victorian Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn MP and the Victorian Government for listening to the voices of families, advocates, and community organisations, and remains committed to working with partners to ensure these reforms deliver safe and stable outcomes for families.
While this news represents major progress, there is more work to do to build a truly trauma‑informed, culturally safe and family‑centred system. We will continue to work alongside ACCOs, the legal assistance sector, and frontline services to ensure these reforms are implemented effectively, transparently and with the full participation of communities most affected.
We thank the Victorian Government and all advocates who have worked tirelessly to achieve this change. This creates a strong foundation for deeper and more meaningful reform.
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