Supporting families and communities in western NSW
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Strengthening Access

This strategy focuses on engaging and supporting children and families at several points in a child’s early life such as antenatal and postnatal care, playgroups, child care and pre-school.

ACTIVITY 1: EARLY CHILDHOOD COORDINATORS

In partnership with Centacare (Dubbo), Uniting Care Burnside (Dubbo), Bubblegum Inc (Narromine), and Wellington Shire Council, the Communities for Children initiative facilitates the work of a team of Early Childhood Coordinators to:

  • increase the number of children and families accessing support from services and other activities

  • increase service outreach and connection with families within their community context

  • increase the level of support of Aboriginal children and families, and children and families with additional needs

  • better connect families to their community, increase awareness of diversity of families and cultures and improve community interest in early childhood issues

  • improve coordination of services for children and families.

These outcomes are being achieved through a range of activities including:

  • facilitating community events

  • developing formal and informal referral networks

  • providing information to families and services

  • participating in and developing service and community networks

  • advocating for existing and new services to outreach to the community

  • working in partnership with key Aboriginal groups to plan culturally inclusive activities

  • advocating for services and support for children and families with additional support needs

  • contributing regular “Early Childhood” columns to local print media.

  • on-going ‘audit’ of services

  • developing and sharing service directories and events calendars.

 “Having recently moved to Wellington, it was so lovely to be able to join in something as well organised and welcoming as today”. Email from a Mum to Wellington Early Childhood Coordinator after attending a Communities for Children family event.

ACTIVITY 2:  LITTLE STEPS ABORIGINAL PLAYGROUPS FACILITATOR

In partnership with Uniting Care Burnside, the Communities for Children Little Steps Facilitator:

  • links Aboriginal children and families into existing playgroups

  • supports existing mainstream playgroups in making their services culturally appropriate

  • identifies gaps in availability of playgroups for Aboriginal children and families

  • supports the enhancement and expansion of Aboriginal playgroups

  • promotes existing and new playgroups within Aboriginal community.

ACTIVITY 3: SMALL GRANTS

During three rounds of application, grants of up to $5,000 have been made to community groups to assist them in establishing informal support networks and/or to develop and implement local, small-scale, time limited, innovative projects that support children and families.

Funding recipients have included playgroups, volunteer support groups and activity groups spanning a broad range of activities including support for early childhood play, families with autistic members, musical interests, and a community kitchen.

A fourth and final round of applications are currently being assessed by the Centacare Communities for Children project team.

“Our children have always had old toys to play with. The biggest highlight of the funding would definitely have been all the smiling faces and the excitement the day all the new bikes were placed onto the new bike track! Even after many months of play, I still see the children’s excitement and appreciation of the fantastic equipment that we are so lucky to have.” A Trangie Playgroup mother.