Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

Investing in Our Children

Around $90 million dollars will be provided to community groups and programs Australia-wide to supply services for children in the important developmental stages of their lives.

Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson today announced the funding had been earmarked for 26 community organisations and 21 programs Australia wide under the revamped Stronger Families and Communities Strategy.

Under the Communities for Children Initiative $68 million in funding will go to 26 community organisations to provide a wide range of services for children aged five years and under. This is in addition to $21 million for community organisations announced by the Howard Government in April 2004.

‘The programs funded under Communities for Children include early learning and literacy programs, playgroups, parenting programs, child nutrition and early skills development,’ Senator Patterson said.

‘Through the Australian Government’s Early Childhood – Invest to Grow initiative, $16 million will be provided over four years to extend 10 established programs, which have a strong track record in improving early childhood outcomes. A further $5 million over four years is being allocated to developing programs that will test innovative approaches to early childhood investment.

‘$370,000 has also been allocated from the Parenting Information Project funds for five projects to provide resources for parents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

‘I am confident that we have a wide range of projects that will enable us to support the expansion of successful models, foster innovation and build the evidence base around what works in early childhood.’

These programs are in line with the findings from community consultations on the development of a National Agenda for Early Childhood focusing the four key action areas of:

  • healthy young families;
  • early learning and care;
  • supporting families and parents; and
  • child friendly communities.

‘The Australian Government is doing all it can to ensure that children are provided with every possible opportunity to develop to their full potential and become strong, resilient adults,’ Senator Patterson said.

A full list of successful applicants is attached and further information is available on the FaCS website.

Organisation
Program Location of Organisation Service Delivery Location Funding
(up to 30 June 2008)
Autism Association of NSW Building Blocks Early Intervention Service NSW NSW $987,502
over 4 yrs
(The) Benevolent Society Partnerships in Early Childhood NSW NSW $2,548,908
over 4 yrs
Children’s Protection Society ‘I’m a Dad’ VIC VIC $575,148
over 4 yrs
Kurrajong Waratah Rural Beginnings NSW NSW $1,549,614
over 4 yrs
Lady Gowrie Child Centre Inc Through the Looking Glass SA SA, WA, and Qld $1,701,700
over 4 yrs
NPY Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation Child Nutrition Program NT NT, SA, and WA $1,491,335
over 4 yrs
Playgroup Association of QLD Sing and Grow QLD National $1,669,338
over 4 yrs
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Remote Homestart NSW National $1,923,904
over 4 yrs
St Giles Society Children’s Therapy Services TAS TAS $1,411,407
over 4 yrs
Victorian Parenting Association Inc and University of Sydney Healthy Start VIC National $2,290,237
over 4 yrs
Total – Established Programs $16,149,093

 

Organisation
Program Location of Organisation Service Delivery Location Funding
(up to 30 June 2008)
Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors Good Food for New Arrivals WA WA $471,564
over 4 yrs
Autism Queensland Inc ProAQtive – Early Intervention for Young Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders QLD QLD $220,000
over 2 yrs
Bundaberg Area Sexual Assault Service Association Inc ‘BumbleBees’ Therapeutic Pre-School QLD QLD $320,419
over 3 yrs
CHEGS Incorporated Goonellabah Early Childhood Transition Program NSW NSW $499,696
over 4 yrs
(incl GST)
Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, The University of Melbourne Mothers, Fathers and Newborns: Preventing Distress and Promoting Confidence Program VIC VIC $481,156
over 3 yrs
KU Children’s Services Early Learning and Literacy Intervention Program NSW NSW $497,300
over 4 yrs
Lifeline Community Care Parent-Child Interaction Therapy QLD QLD $487,225
over 3 yrs
Macquarie Research Ltd and StaR Inclusive Early Childhood Education Association Special Teaching and Research (StaR) Project NSW NSW $499,849
over 4 yrs
Mercy Community Services Inc Mercy Kutjungka Region Child and Maternal Program WA WA $494,845
over 4 yrs
(incl GST)
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Platforms Strategy VIC VIC $357,900
over 2 yrs
School for Social and Policy Research, Charles Darwin University Let’s Start: Exploring Together for Indigenous Preschools NT NT $681,142
over 4 yrs
Total – Developing Programs $5,011,096
Total – Established and Developing Programs $21,160,189

 

Communities for Children: sites, funded organisations and funding
Site Organisation/Consortium Funding ($m)
New South Wales
Fairfield – encompassing Fairfield, Fairfield East, Fairfield Heights and Fairfield West The Smith Family 3
Campbelltown – encompassing Ambarvale, Rosemeadow The Benevolent Society 2
Blacktown – encompassing Blackett, Mount Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Hebersham, Minchinbury, Whalan Mission Australia 3.5
Wyong – encompassing Berkeley Vale, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Glenning Valley, Killarney Vale, Bateau Bay, Shelley Beach, Tumbi Umbi, Blue Bay, Long Jetty, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay The Benevolent Society 3
Dubbo/Wellington/Narromine – encompassing Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine Centacare Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes 3.5
Raymond Terrace Consortia: Raymond Terrace Communities for Children (Led by The Smith Family and including The Family Action Centre) 2
Taree – encompassing the Greater Taree LGA Mission Australia 3
Victoria
Hume/Broadmeadows – encompassing Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana, Coolaroo, Meadow Heights, Campbellfield Consortia: Opportunities for All Children – A Communities for Children project (Led by Broadmeadows Uniting Care and including Dianella Community Health Inc and Orana Family Services) 3.5
Brimbank – encompassing Albion, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Ardeer Consortia: TSFISIS (Led by The Smith Family and including ISIS Primary Care) 3
Greater Dandenong – encompassing Dandenong, Dandenong North, Dandenong South, Bangholme Consortia: Mission Australia – Greater Dandenong (Led by Mission Australia and including the City of Greater Dandenong) 3
Bendigo – encompassing North Bendigo, Long Gully, California Gully, White Hills, Ironbark, Eaglehawk St Luke’s Anglicare 2
Frankston North – encompassing Frankston North, Karingal, Carrum Downs Anglicare Victoria 3
Queensland
Deception Bay BoysTown 2
Gladstone – encompassing the SLAs of Gladstone and Calliope Part B, and Calliope Part A including Tannum Sands and the towns of Calliope, Benaraby, Wurdon Heights and Beecher and the settlements of River Ranch, West Stowe, Burua and Boyne Islands Consortia: Gladstone Communities for Children Consortium (Led by Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd and including Anglicare Central Queensland Ltd) 3
Kingston/Loganlea/Waterford West The Salvation Army (Queensland) Property Trust as part of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory 3
Inala-Ipswich – encompassing Inala, Durack, Richlands, Wacol, Carole Park, Goodna and Gailes Mission Australia 2
South Australia
Onkaparinga – encompassing Morphett Vale, Hackham, Hackham West, Christies Downs, Lonsdale Consortia: Healthy Families, Strong Communities (Led by Anglicare SA Inc. and including UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide) 3
Port Augusta UnitingCare Wesley Port Pirie 1
Salisbury – encompassing Salisbury East, Pooraka, Para Hills, Ingle Farm and Para Hills West The Salvation Army (South Australia) Property Trust 3
Western Australia
Kwinana – encompassing Medina, Orelia, Parmelia, Bertram, Leda, Calista, Wellard The Smith Family 2
East Kimberley – encompassing the SLAs of Wyndham-East Kimberley and Halls Creek Consortia: Yambaba Consortium (Led by Lingiari Foundation Inc. and including Save the Children Australia) 2
Armadale – encompassing Armadale, Brookdale, Forrestdale, Kelmscott, Champion Lakes, Seville Grove and Mount Richon Communicare (Inc.) 3.5
Northern Territory
Palmerston/Tiwi Islands – encompassing Durack, Bakewell, Driver, Moulden, Woodroffe, Gray and the Tiwi Islands Australian Red Cross Northern Territory Division 3
East Arnhem – encompassing Nhulunbuy (Gove), Alyangula, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Yirrkala, Gunyangara, Milyakburra, Angurugu, Umbakumba, Numbulwar Synod of the Diocese of the Northern Territory Incorporated 2
Tasmania
Burnie and surrounds Centacare Tasmania 2
Australian Capital Territory
Inner North Canberra – encompassing Ainslie, Turner, Braddon, Watson, Downer, Dickson, Lyneham, Reid, O’Connor Northside Community Service Inc 2