Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

$1.5 million to expand targeted family support in Alice Springs

Joint Media Release with:

  • Karl Hampton MLA, NT Minister for Central Australia
    Warren Snowdon MP, Member for Lingiari

Aboriginal families in Alice Springs who are struggling to care for their children, will receive additional funding through the $138 million Alice Springs Transformation Plan which is jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments.

The Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC) will receive more than $1.5 million to expand and improve its Targeted Family Support Service which provides intensive case management for individual families.

Additional staff including two social workers and two Aboriginal case workers will be employed so that the service can expand its case management capacity from 15 to 50 families.

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin said early intervention to support vulnerable families was vital.

‘We know that early intervention, through intensive targeted services, can make all the difference for parents who are struggling to cope.’

‘Many families and children face a range of problems including domestic violence and substance abuse. It’s important to intervene early to help people get the advice and services they need to care for their children,’ Ms Macklin said.

The Minister for Central Australia Karl Hampton said it was critical to support early intervention models to prevent children from entering the child protection system.

‘The number of children becoming involved in the child protection system continues to increase. So we need to encourage the capacity building of families to ensure child well-being comes first,’ said Mr Hampton.

‘The expansion of this service will complement other family support work being done in our community and allow for early identification and intervention.’

A further $100,000 has been provided to the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to employ an additional alcohol counsellor who began work in September.

This builds on the success of the ‘Grog Mob’ program which offers counselling and rehabilitation programs to meet the high demand for non-residential rehabilitation and treatment services.