Western Sydney Forum | Part 1 Report

Community Safety, Cultural Strength & Pathways to Change

The Western Sydney Community Safety & Healing Forum 2026 Report captures the collective knowledge, conversations and priorities that emerged from culturally rounded gathering of community members, cultural knowledge holders, services and community organisations across Western Sydney.

Convened by Be One Collective Aboriginal Corporation, the forum created a space for truth-telling, reflection and shared responsibility bringing community and service providers together to examine the interconnected challenges affecting Aboriginal families, children and young people.

The report explores the systemic and community factors contributing to safety and wellbeing concerns across Western Sydney, including child protection, youth justice, housing instability, youth postcode conflict, cultural safety, workforce sustainability and service coordination.

Rather than focusing only on problems, the report identifies practical pathways towards prevention, healing and lasting change. What the report explores

The report brings together forum insights and a culturally grounded framework for understanding and responding to community safety, including:

• The impact of child removal and the importance of family preservation and cultural connection.

• Youth violence, postcode conflict, and the need for safe pathways to belonging

• Housing instability and its impact on families and young people

• Gaps in culturally safe services and early intervention

• Workforce pressures, cultural capability, and sustainability

• The role of Aboriginal cultural knowledge in strengthening service responses

• The importance of coordinated, place-based approaches across Western Sydney

• Opportunities to strengthen partnerships between community, services and government

• The role of Collaborative Circles in creating ongoing dialogue, accountability and coordinated action

• Alignment with Closing the Gap outcomes and Priority Reforms.

For Attendees

Forum participants will receive a copy of the report at no cost as recognition of their contribution, participation and shared knowledge.

Supporting The Work

For those who did not attend the forum, the report is available for purchase. Revenue from report sales supports Be One Collective Aboriginal Corporation's ongoing work in cultural capability, community engagement, workforce development and culturally grounded approaches to family and community safety.