Greater access to Aboriginal and rural children’s services

More than $290,000 will go to eight Aboriginal and rural children’s services in New South Wales, Minister for Community Services Larry Anthony announced today.

“The funding, part of the Commonwealth’s Children’s Services Program, will allow the services to replace their mobile children’s services vehicles and provide two of the services with new facilities,” Mr Anthony said.

Services to receive new vehicles are three Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services (MACS) which support and help young Aboriginal children prepare for primary school, four Mobile Children’s Services located in rural and isolated areas, and Contact Incorporated, the resource agency for NSW Mobile Children’s Services.

“Mobile Children’s Services perform a vital service for Aboriginal families and families living in rural and remote areas in NSW, where there is a lack of appropriate transport and children’s services available,” Mr Anthony said.

The Outback Mobile Resource Unit at Broken Hill which covers a large area of western NSW will also receive $12,000 to purchase a lap top computer and employ a casual worker to train staff.

“This will let service providers communicate more effectively with families in the area and manage the service more efficiently,” Mr Anthony said.

“The Birrelee MACS at Tamworth will also receive an additional $39,000 to extend its building so Aboriginal children and their families can access health screening and support services that are sensitive to their cultural needs.

“This funding demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to helping all families access child care, so they can balance the demands of work and family.”