The guiding principles of family group conferencing are that aboriginal people and communities should be involved in the planning and delivery of services to families and their children. Families should receive the appropriate support services to help them provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children. It is also important that the voice of the child is heard and taken into consideration during this process and as decisions are made relating to her or his welfare.
The purpose of the Social Worker is to increase the number of children and/or youth living safely with immediate, or extended, family, or friends, through the development of a case plan for child(ren) in care which is created and embraced by empowered support networks that include family, extended families and significant people in the child or youths life.