24 February 2022
A brand new Child and Family Centre is the latest project in an $11.4 million Territory Labor Government investment in better futures for families across the NT.
CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation has been funded $2.7 million over five years to run the Darrandirra Child and Family Centre, in addition to $815,000 which funded upgrades to the premises.
Set in the Malak Shopping Centre, Darrandirra offers assistance to families from across Darwin's northern suburbs including programs to build resilience and access to health, community, legal, financial and housing services.
The Centre, which had operated at Sanderson Middle School since April last year while waiting for the centre at Malak to be completed, is a modern facility designed as a family-friendly environment.
There's a play area for young children, a range of resources, access to computers and iPads, wi-fi, and quiet spaces for reading or studying.
Child and Family Centres are places for all children, operated by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, in line with the Territory Labor Government's commitment to improve services for children, young people and families.
There are ten other Child and Family Centres in the NT in urban and remote settings including Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs Town Camps, Larapinta, Palmerston, Kalkarindji, Ngukurr, Gunbalanya, Yuendumu, and Maningrida.
Centres will be established at Wadeye, Borroloola, Wurrumiyanga, and Gapuwiyak within the coming months; and at Ali Curung and Kintore next financial year.
The investment is additional to six other Child and Family Centres established at schools across the NT by the Department of Education and enables the number of centres to be expanded to 17.
The Child and Family Centres are part of the Territory Labor Government's wider $229.6 million investment under the Safe, Thriving and Connected: Generational Change for Children and Families program.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lauren Moss:
"This new centre is a very useful resource for families with children and, being in the shopping centre, it's near to other key social services.
"This investment is part of our Government's commitment to strengthening family and community capacity to raise children.
"These centres work as a network across the Territory and demonstrate strong partnerships between government agencies, non-government services and communities; linking families with early childhood education, child and maternal health, and parenting support services."
