The Case for Investing in Early Intervention and Prevention
Every child deserves to grow up safe, strong and supported. When families get the right support early, children are safer, families stay together, and communities thrive.
Early Intervention and Prevention are one of the most effective and responsible investments the NSW Government can make.
To strengthen the case for Early Intervention, Fams NSW partnered with Lumenia to develop a new economic model of the Community and Family Support (CAFS) program.
This model provides the most comprehensive picture yet of how Early Intervention can benefit children, families, communities and the NSW budget over time.
Many of the most important outcomes of Early Intervention such as healing, connection to culture, stability, hope for the future, do not naturally show up in dollars. But they matter deeply.
Our modelling assigns conservative, evidence‑based values to these outcomes.
Even with this caution, the results and potential are compelling.
The Economic Model
Our model shows that with the right investment and right settings, Early Intervention can return up to $2.97 in social and economic benefits.
What the Modelling Shows and the Path Forward
To realise our evidence-based aspiration, we need to uplift CAFS by 30% and transition 40% of service delivery to ACCOs (in addition to indexation).
What could this look like?
At present, spending growth in child protection has occurred mostly at the statutory end of the system. This approach reacts to harm rather than stopping it from occurring in the first place and places unnecessary pressure on families, workers and government budgets.
We suggest increasing the program by 30% over four years. This could look like:
| Year | Investment Value ($000,000) | Annual Increase ($m) |
| Y0 | $231.4 | – |
| Y0 -Y1 | $247.14 | +15.7 |
| Y1 – Y2 | $263.80 | +16.8 |
| Y2 – Y3 | $281.70 | +17.9 |
| Y3 – Y4 | $300.80 | +19.1 |
It is time to rebalance the system.
Investment That Matches the Evidence
Fams NSW comes to government with evidence‑based aspirations, not slogans.
If NSW wants the social and economic returns shown in the modelling, Early Intervention must be funded at the right scale and with the right design settings.
This means:
- Investment that is additional, not repurposed from existing CAFS programs.
- A stable, properly resourced NGO sector that can plan, retain staff and build trust
- Stronger investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to uplift cultural safety across the system
A Connected Early Intervention System
Early Intervention and Prevention in NSW includes both CAFS and Family Preservation programs. Both play vital roles. Both require sustainable, culturally responsive investment.
While the current economic modelling focuses on CAFS, our advocacy recognises the whole ecosystem needed to keep children safe and families strong. These programs work best when adequately resourced and coordinated together.
We will continue to advocate for a system that works together and not in silos.
Our Advocacy Focus
This economic modelling supports our overarching Advocacy Platform for 2026-2027. We advocate for policy and practice settings that:
- Scale what works by expanding Early Intervention and Prevention, so families are reached sooner.
- Sustain the workforce by investing in the people and organisations delivering trusted and relational support.
- Centre lived experience by ensuring outcomes reflect family strengths, cultural identity and community wisdom.