The Albanese Government is expanding the successful Connected Beginnings program, ensuring more First Nations children thrive in the crucial early years.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today announced $2.2 million for Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services to deliver the Connected Beginnings program in Canberra's south.
The program connects First Nations children aged zero to five with a range of early childhood education, health and family support services - helping children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school.
The new South Canberra site joins 48 other locations across the country supporting more than 24,200 First Nations children.
The community-led program is a key contributor to the early childhood Closing the Gap targets, driving an increase in preschool enrolments and improvements to developmental outcomes.
The Government partners with SNAICC - National Voice for our Children and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to deliver the program.
The new site is part of an Australian Government $81.8 million investment to expand the program to 50 sites across the country. Once all 50 sites are established, the program has the potential to support up to 20 per cent of all First Nations children aged zero to five.
The new Connected Beginnings site joins an existing site already supporting First Nations Children in the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) north. Together the sites will be able to support all of the First Nations children across the ACT.
Learn more about the Connected Beginnings program at: education.gov.au/early-childhood/community-child-care-fund/connected-beginnings.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:
"All children, no matter their background or where they live, should be able to access the transformational benefits of quality early childhood education and care.
"Connected Beginnings is delivering significant positive results for First Nations children right across the country, helping to Close the Gap by improving developmental outcomes.
"The Connected Beginnings program is empowering communities to design and deliver the program in a way which supports their individual needs and aspirations."
Quotes attributable to Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne:
"I am very pleased to see the Connected Beginnings program expand to South Canberra. Winnunga Nimmityjah is a pillar of our community, and this investment will help ensure that they can give more First Nations children in Canberra the support they need to thrive in their early years and make a strong start to their education.
"This program represents what can be achieved when we take a community-led, culturally safe approach to Closing the Gap. It is an investment in our children, their families, and the future of Canberra as a place where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential."
Quotes attributable to SNAICC Chief Executive Catherine Liddle:
"The Connected Beginnings program empowers communities to design initiatives that meet their unique needs, ensuring children are ready for big school.
"This initiative provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in South Canberra with a strong foundation for their educational journey by offering integrated, culturally safe services-from early childhood care to health and family support.
"By implementing this community-led approach at other Connected Beginnings sites, we have seen the average attendance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in centre-based care increase by more than 10 per cent."
Quotes attributable to Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services Chief Executive Officer Julie Tongs:
"The new Connected Beginnings project will be a robust, holistic, culturally safe, multi and inter-disciplinary approach.
"It will strengthen Winnunga's existing relationships with schools in the ACT by focussing on identifying First Nations children and their families who require medical and/or social health supports."
