Expanded community support service for Indigenous communities

The Australian Government is providing $55 million over four years to deliver link-up and support services for Indigenous Australians through a national network of 87 new Indigenous Community Support Service providers.

The providers will help connect Indigenous people and their families with a range of services in areas including caring for families, early childhood, education, training, employment, financial management, housing, health and legal services.

They will also help people deal with issues including family violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

Often whole communities suffer social isolation through a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, sub-standard housing, high levels of crime, bad health, disability and family breakdown.

By connecting Indigenous Australians to a linked network of services we can help them overcome social isolation and disadvantage and move closer towards closing the gap.

The program has been established following consultations with Indigenous communities about the reform of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Program.

Funding of up to $150,000 for a provider to service a single or cluster of locations will cover salary, rent, utilities, equipment, administrative, training, travel and other costs.

The Government encourages service providers, including those affected by the removal of CDEP, to apply for funding to provide the new Indigenous Community Support Service.

For more information on this funding process and a list of the service locations see Grants and Funding