Media Releases

04 Aug 2009 - Supporting children and families in Campbelltown, Blacktown and Ballina

The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, and the New South Wales Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney, today announced three new Children and Family Centres for NSW to improve the quality of life for Indigenous children and their families.

Announced on National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day, the new centres will be located in Campbelltown, Blacktown and Ballina and will offer a range of quality early learning and care programs, as well as activities to assist parents and families.

"The Australian Government recognises the importance of the early years of a child's life and is committed to supporting Australian children and families," Ms Ellis said.

"The Children and Family Centres in Campbelltown, Blacktown and Ballina will bring together a range of services aimed at ensuring children have the best possible start in life," she added.

The three new centres are the first of nine to be established in New South Wales under the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement with the Australian Government.

The National Partnership provides joint funding of $564 million over six years to help address the needs of Indigenous children.

Under the partnership, the Australian Government has provided $293 million over six years to fund the establishment of at least 35 Children and Family Centres in urban, regional and remote locations across Australia, including $74.7m over six years to establish nine centres in New South Wales.

The decision to establish the first of the new centres in Campbelltown, Blacktown and Ballina was based on the communitys high level of need. These communities also have a significant proportion of Indigenous children under five years old.

"The centres will offer programs and services specifically tailored to Indigenous children and families, and are designed to assist all Australian children and families," Ms Ellis said.

Ms Burney said the next step was to talk to local communities about the specific sites for the centres and the types of services the community want to see incorporated in them.

"Consultation with the local community is essential to designing effective services that meet the needs of local families and improve child care and early learning outcomes," Ms Burney said.

"These centres will encourage parents to get involved with their children's education, learning and development and provide parents the opportunity to learn new skills through adult educational classes."

The Campbelltown, Blacktown and Ballina centres are expected to be established by early-2011.

For more information about Children and Family Centres and other Australian Government early childhood education and child care initiatives: www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood.