Families in Mt Druitt will now have access to the Turnbull Government’s community based Connected Beginnings program, which connects health care, early childhood education and family support services to give local children the best possible start in life.
The Connected Beginnings program includes initiatives that provide outreach and support, and bring early childhood and health services together so Indigenous families have a place in their community to access these services.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham congratulated Ngroo Education for taking on responsibility for delivering Connected Beginnings in the Mt Druitt community.
“Through Ngroo Education and the local community, Connected Beginnings will provide local families with vital support services to help get children school ready,” Minister Birmingham said.
“By engaging with families and providing them with tailored support – you can positively improve a child’s preparedness for school which will have significant benefits for them down the track.
“Happy, healthy children who are ready to start school makes a big difference to their educational outcomes and maximises the opportunities they will have to learn and grow throughout their school years.”
Minister for Indigenous Health Ken Wyatt said Ngroo Education is based on the Tregear Public School grounds. A strong relationship with Ngroo and the local Aboriginal health service, will be important in delivering the Connected Beginnings program.
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and improving their health and wellbeing is a key goal of this program,” Minister Wyatt said.
“Supporting the health and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the first five years of life will develop a range of capabilities that will enable a positive transition to school and achievement of a child’s potential.”
Mt Druitt is the latest community in Australia to benefit from the program with Connected Beginnings already being delivered in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Galiwin’ku, Doomadgee, Port Augusta, Mildura and Ceduna.
Under the Turnbull Government’s new child care package, $10 million will be made available each year through the Community Child Care Fund for Connected Beginnings with an additional $12 million over three years from the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme.
For more information on the Connected Beginnings program go to: https://www.education.gov.au/connected-beginnings-program.