Supporting families and communities in western NSW
about Us

Communities Valuing Children & Families

 

This strategy aims to increase the profile of and support for children and families living in the areas of Wellington, Narromine, Dubbo and Trangie.

 

 

ACTIVITY ONE: COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In partnership with Bravo Marketing by Design a community awareness campaign involving local people has been developed to include:

  • the Communities for Children website which provides parents and new families to the region with information about available childhood services and programs as well provide a point of contact for their nearest Communities for Children Coordinator. It also links service providers with current research and developments in early childhood both in the region and the professional field.

  • the Kids at Heart Community Festival staged in Dubbo, on Saturday 25 October 2008.
    Over 3,500 people attended this family event offering musical, arts and play activities, entertainment and storytelling. Families were provided for throughout the event with an Elder’s tent and other family friendly spaces where     children were able to be fed and rested in between the main entertainment events, highlighting the success of a wholistic approach to supporting and engaging children and their families in fun, social community activities. Community workshops engaged parents and children in preparing for the festival through early childhood musical activities, banner making for the parade and the development of hip hop stage performances for young dads.  
  • the forthcoming production of a Communities for Children documentary focusing on the value of children and families, issues shared by the community in relation to early childhood, and the project’s development and impacts.

ACTIVITY TWO: CHILD AND FAMILY FRIENDLY SPACES – completed October 2008

Initially in partnership with Success from Within, and now managed by the Centacare Communities for Children project team, this activity aims to raise the profile of and support for children and families by identifying and promoting child and family friendly spaces.

A child friendly community is defined as:

  • inclusive of all families and cultures
  • having the capacity and will to own and respond to early childhood issues
  • one in which community members, its facilities and institutions work together to improve early childhood health, development and well-being.

Success From Within undertook an audit of public spaces and buildings and the Communities for Children project team focused on creating and promoting local child and family friendly spaces in partnership with councils, community organisations and businesses.

Centacare has now also developed resources and products as a result of community consultation, which included shade sails in parks, breastfeeding corners in local pharmacies, advertising and a series of prominent street banners with parenting messages.