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The article provides an overview of an evaluation of early learnings from Indigenous Community Development projects funded by the Telstra Foundation in Australia. The projects look at community-identified solutions for the serious social and health problems affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The projects also address themes such as early childhood development, youth participation and leadership, and the role of schools in facilitating change. Marlene Burchill, as the principal project worker, also provides her Indigenous perspective on community development.

The article describes the views of Indigenous young people in care as well as the views of carers of Indigenous young people about their experiences and needs, the challenges they have faced, and their views on promising practices in Australia. These views were gathered during focus groups conducted with Indigenous young people in care, and with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous carers of Indigenous young people in two jurisdictions. The views of young people presented suggest that the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in out-of-home care could be enhanced by having more placements available within their local community and extended family.

The article focuses on the socioeconomic forces underlying Indigenous interaction with the justice system which can only be obtained by interrogating omnibus social surveys that include a reasonably comprehensive set of potential explanatory factors, including potentially important on family background in Australia. The omnibus social surveys include 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey and the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey. The author also provides an overview of existing literature on socioeconomic factors underlying Indigenous crime.

The article presents views and insights of the author on some family issues for Indigenous people in Australia. The author discusses the views of the National Indigenous Council (NIC) in improving outcomes for Indigenous early childhood. The NIC believes that a community development approach to health promotion and prevention programs will yield the best results for Indigenous children and their families. The NIC regards a whole of government approach as vital to underpinning positive outcomes for Indigenous children and their families across the spectrum of education, health, housing and safe communities.