Walking Alongside Children and Families, Together
At the Flour Mill, community takes many forms. For Jannawi Family Centre, it means standing alongside children and families at their most vulnerable, with care, cultural respect and an unwavering commitment to safety.
Jannawi is an independent, community-based child protection service provider and a national leader in advocacy for children who have experienced trauma. For more than four decades, the organisation has supported children impacted by violence, neglect, psychological harm and sexual assault and while helping families heal and rebuild.
The name Jannawi, meaning “with me, with you”, was gifted by the Aboriginal Land Council and reflects the organisation’s core philosophy: walking alongside families to create meaningful change.
A legacy of care and advocacy
Jannawi’s story began in 1978 as the Wiley Park Centre, supporting children who had experienced trauma. In 1991, it became the Jannawi Family Centre, strengthening its focus on culturally responsive, family-centred support.
Over the years, Jannawi has been recognised nationally for its innovative work in violence prevention and child protection. It has played a key role in major reforms, including contributions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the NSW Sexual Assault Expert Group, and the establishment of the National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.
Even during the COVID pandemic, Jannawi continued to support vulnerable families across South-West Sydney, including during some of the harshest lockdowns in the country.
Supporting the whole family
What sets Jannawi apart is its whole-of-family approach.
Rather than focusing on one individual, Jannawi works with entire family systems, including children, non-offending parents, extended family members and, where appropriate, perpetrators. This approach recognises that child safety is strengthened when the whole system around a child is supported.
Jannawi’s work includes:
- Flexible, trauma-informed support for children and families
- Bilingual and culturally responsive services
- Partnering with non-offending parents to strengthen safety and healing
- Supporting families to navigate complex systems such as legal, welfare and immigration services
- Advocacy to drive long-term, systemic change
A new chapter at the Flour Mill
In 2023, after more than 30 years in Wiley Park, Jannawi relocated to its purpose-built centre at the Flour Mill in Summer Hill.
The open spaces, community feel and welcoming atmosphere of the Flour Mill align closely with Jannawi’s values and approach, creating a place where families feel supported, heard and acknowledged.
With me. With you.
At its heart, Jannawi exists to ensure children are safe and families are supported, not judged or abandoned.
Now part of the Flour Mill community, Jannawi Family Centre continues its vital work with compassion, cultural respect and a deep commitment to walking alongside those who need it most.