$3 million to help families and children in Alice Springs

Vulnerable families and children at risk in Alice Springs will receive additional support through intensive early intervention programs to improve their health and wellbeing.

The Australian Government, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, will provide $3 million over three years to establish a new Communities for Children site in the town which will start operating before the end of the year.

The new Communities for Children site was agreed at a meeting today of the Alice Springs Transformation Plan joint steering committee.

It will deliver services including mobile and outreach playgroups, early learning and literacy programs, parenting and family support programs, child nutrition, and child friendly community events.

As part of the new Family Support Program, these services will target families with children aged from newborn to 12 years, who are at risk of disadvantage.

Early intervention measures are essential to stop child neglect and abuse before it happens.

Families and children in Central Australia, many of them Indigenous Australians face significant disadvantage and have complex needs which require a range of targeted services.

It builds on the partnership between both governments to improve the lives of the people of Alice Springs, particularly the residents of the Alice Springs town camps.

It also reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to children’s wellbeing and safety under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

A tender process to select the Alice Springs Communities for Children site will commence in July this year.