New Children & Family Centres

The following page contains edited items with links from SNAICC Online News and SNAICC policy papers and other sites relating to the development of the 35+ Children and Family Centres (CaFCs).  This page seeks to track developments regarding these centres and reflects SNAICC's understanding at the time of publication, rather than a continuous amending/updating a page. SNAICC welcomes your feedback and comments. Follow the links for more detail on each item.

Background: 35+ Children and Family Centres (CaFC)

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) website 20 December 2009 (abridged) notes 'As part of the Indigenous Early Childhood National Partnership, a minimum of 35 Children and Family Centres are to be established across Australia by June 2014 to deliver integrated services that offer early learning, child care and family support programs.  The Centres will be spread across the country, but will be concentrated in areas where there are high proportions of Indigenous children in the 0 to 4 age range and in areas of high disadvantage.  Not all sites will include the construction of a new centre, but may instead enhance the ability of existing services to work in a more integrated and accessible way for Indigenous and disadvantaged families... State and territory governments have taken the lead on initiating consultations with communities in areas highlighted for a Centre and to identify the priorities within each community... The pace of development and negotiations varies between states and territories, with the ACT site having gone to tender for constuction.'

CaFC locations announced as of December 2009

  • Northern Territory: Yuendumu, Maningrida, Gunbalanya, Palmerston & Ngukurr
  • Queensland: Mt Isa, Cairns, Mareeba, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton, Doomadgee, Marsden, Palm Island & Mornington Island costing $75.18 million. (The original prosal for nine centres has now become ten centres.) 
  • South Australia: Christies Beach/Noarlunga, Whyalla & Ceduna (a fourth site under development at the Ernabella/ Pukatja on the AP Lands, was negotiated outside the National Partnership)
  • Western Australia: Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Kununurra, Roebourne & the Swan region
  • Tasmania: Bridgewater, with outreach to Geeveston
  • Australian Capital Territory: West Belconnen 
  • New South Wales: Campbelltown, Blacktown (2 Centres), Ballina, Walgett, Shoalhaven, Lake Macquarie, Brewarrina and Gunnedah Local Government Area
  • Victoria: Bairnsdale, Whittlesea

SNAICC urges involved parties to actively engage in the development of these services

SNAICC needs your assistance in getting accurate information as to what is happening in your state in relation to the new 35 children and family centres.
Please contact Frank Hytten at SNAICC if you have questions or comments.

SNAICC Articles relevant to CaFS

These articles are edited versions from the SNAICC Online News and SNAICC E-bulletin

 

Celebrate the new Brewarrina Child & Family Centre

See also - News item 08 September 2010

Family celebration 23 September, Brewarrina Park, Brewarrina NSW

The Brewarrina Children and Family Centre in north-west NSW will be one of the 35 new centres rolling out across Australia. The centre will service  about 2000 people from Brewarrina, Goodooga, Weilmoringle and Carinda. This family celebration/event is for all community members to celebrate the new service.  Local Reference Group members will be available to talk with community members, and talk over what services they would like to see at the centre. And of course there will be fun activities for all the kids.

‘We are still in early stages’, said Reference Group Chair Jenny Barker, a Ngemba woman and general manager of the Northern Star Aboriginal Corporation. 'We plan for the service to be up and running by the end of 2012.

‘We are having fortnightly meetings, getting a handle on what we want and organising a tour of some other similar buildings in NSW and the contracts will go out shortly. We are looking for land which is a bit difficult as but we want three blocks, and that’s difficult as it’s only a small place. Our Reference Group has good representation, and we are all getting on well – our community organisations, and federal and state government agencies. We say what we want and the way it is. We are a strong community and we want to tap into our local economy, and to keep it in the community – we are such a small community we know our needs and we need to fix it in a true partnership.’

Reference Group Chair Jenny Barker is also Ngemba Community Working Party chair and Absec delegate for Keeping Them Safe on the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly.

35 Children and Family Centres. What’s happening across the nation?

See also - News item 06 October 2009

SNAICC has long promoted the development of Aboriginal community-controlled children and family centres as the best model to achieve good outcomes for our children, families and communities. Accordingly SNAICC was very supportive of the National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Early Childhood which announced the funding of the COAG Children and Family Centres (see our online history of the development of these services).

The Agreement clearly commits governments to work closely with community in developing the CFCs, noting that ‘community engagement with the Children and Family Centres is integral to their successful implementation’. As the implementation process begins, SNAICC is following the progress of the centres with interest and some concern.

Early reports from services across the country have revealed a lack of consistency in the way that CFCs are being developed, particularly regarding community involvement in planning and management of the centres.

While SNAICC has not spoken to all services and communities involved, there some issues are being consistently raised. Services have expressed concerns regarding governance, planning, poor or token consultation, workforce issues and potential absorption of services and infrastructure into schools and other mainstream services and service take over by non-Aboriginal clients. Some community organisations in South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia and have been so unhappy with the process that they have written formally to their respective Ministers and / or media about the lack of consultation and the directions being taken.

There is also confusion about the impact of the National Quality Agenda workforce requirements on the CFCs and budget based services such as the MACS and some other early childhood services. The implementation of National Quality Agenda workforce requirements and requirements for our non-CCB services is a complex issue in the early stages of being rolled out. For more information particularly with respect to the requirements or otherwise of the Framework on the new CFCs see online or email your queries.

SNAICC will continue to talk with DEEWR to clarify these issues in the coming months and we will give an update in our next issue of SNAICC News. This report will also include information on the model legislation that Victoria is developing and responses from other states and territories developing their own legislation from that model.

We believe that those who are responsible for implementing the CFCs should learn from the strengths of existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood services. To achieve this, each Children and Family Centre should have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and involvement in all stages of its planning, governance and daily management. State government lead agencies should consult with their state IPSUs in rolling out the CFCs to take advantage of their on the ground expertise, and the IPSUs should be adequately resourced to support CFCs, once they are established.
 
SNAICC thinks that the CFCs will benefit many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, providing they are responsive to community needs and feedback. We know that any move to develop services that are not Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-designed, led and run may mean that the centres will fail to achieve their potential.

Working with families, children and communities to make sure that their interests and involvement are central will go a long way to making the Children and Family Centres a success. CFCs have the potential to be the basis for the good practice community controlled/government partnerships that SNAICC champions. We are keen to hear of other services’ experiences and will provide an update in the next SNAICC News.

As the CFC roll-out is still in early stages for many communities, there is time to address these concerns.

 

Report from the SNAICC 2009 Members Forum

See also - News item 12 May 2010

The 26th AGM and Members Forum, held in Adelaide 11 – 13 November included a discussion between SNAICC members and Kathryn Shugg, DEEWR Acting Group Manager Indigenous Pathways and Early Learning, a number of issues, the most critical for SNAICC members being the Child and Family Centres (CFCs).The members expressed their concern about:

  • Inadequate consultation about both about the location of the 35+ CFCs and about management of centres
  • The management process if no suitable Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander agency applies to manage an identified site
  • Funding after the first six years
  • Relationship between the Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services (MACS) and the CFCs
  • Whether the IPSUs will be funded to support the CFS
  • Varying use of the descriptor ‘Indigenous’ to describe the service type.

SNAICC pointed out that FaHCSIA refers to the CFCs as ‘Indigenous’ as part of the Closing the Gap strategy but DEEWR does not. Kathryn Shugg said DEEWR has never referred to the centres as ‘Indigenous’ child and family centres and that ‘there is no requirement for Indigenous control of the centres.’ Further, she said that the management structure depends on community wishes and capacity, which may require looking at a partnership over time building capacity of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander service. In response, SNAICC Executive Member Donna Klein asked ‘How can we build our workforce and capacity? In what century are we as a people going to be permitted to be responsible for the future of our children?’

The meeting agreed that DEEWR and SNAICC meet with representatives from each state and territory responsible for the roll-out of the centres. SNAICC looks forward to developing constructive relationship with state and territory departments involved in development of these centres.

New SA & QLD Children & Family Centre sites announced

See also - News item 04 November 2009

Over the last week 13 Indigenous Children and Family Centres sites have been announced in South Australia and Queensland. Three South Australian Children and Family Centres sites are at Christies Beach/Noarlunga, Whyalla and Ceduna. The centres are to open in 2011, with the Federal Government, in partnership with the South Australian Government investing $25.22 million over six years.  (See the joint press release 30 October by Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Kate Ellis and the South Australian Minister for Early Childhood Development Jay Weatherill.)  A fouth SA site is under development at the Ernabella/ Pukatja on the AP Lands, negotiated outside the National Partnership.

On 5 November the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Kate Ellis and Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh  announced ten new Queensland centres at Mt Isa, Cairns, Mareeba, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton, Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Marsden and Palm Island costing $75.18 million.

The press releases relating to both announcements say the centres target the needs of Aboriginal families and their young children, but all families will be able to use the service and the centres will bring together services to help children and their families develop in terms of health, education and social development.

SA Minister Weatherill said: 'We will make sure we engage with the local community to ensure the services will meet the needs of local families and improve outcomes for young children,' he said.  The Queensland Government press release notes that: 'The Queensland Government will lead the next step, talking with each community about the specific sites for the centres and what types of services best suit local needs.'

These services are 13 of the 35 Children and Family Centres will be built across Australia as part of the $564 million Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement between the Australian Government and states and territories.

SNAICC has been actively following the development of these services over this year, and urges decision makers to fully understand the core issues around cultural safety and Indigenous community control and that this is the best mechanism to ‘Close the Gap’ and perhaps achieve even better outcomes. For details see previous article 'The 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres and the MACS' (26 September 2009).

'Indigenous' or 'Indigenous focused'? Five WA Children & Family Centre sites

See also - News item 06 October 2009

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, today announced the locations of five Indigenous Children and Family Centres for Western Australia. The centres will be in Fitzroy Crossing, Kununurra, Roebourne, Halls Creek and the Swan region.

The five WA centres are being established as part of the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement between the Australian and state and territory governments.  Minister Macklin said the Western Australian Government has already begun discussions with the Halls Creek community about the specific site for the centre and the types of services it will provide. Discussions with the other communities will commence shortly.

SNAICC notes that the FaHCSIA press release announcing these centres describes them as 'Indigenous focused.'  The intent and meaning in the original policy documents of the federal government's program seems to be changing as it is being implemented. What were called ‘Indigenous Children and Family Centres’, are now being called ‘Indigenous focused Children and Family Centres’. SNAICC recently discussed this change in language and therefore meaning, with Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and has also published our concerns that the potential of the new centres to promote Indigenous children's wellbeing is being eroded.

SNAICC is again seeking a committment from Ministers Macklin and Ellis to maintain the policy intent of Indigneous control through to establishment and operation of these 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centers.

UPDATE: The 35 Child and Family Centres and the MACS

See also - News item 26 September 2009

The September edition of SNAICC News was posted out early this week. It includes an article by SNAICC Executive Officer, Frank Hytten, concerning the current development of the 35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres (ICFCs) across Australia. The two key matters addressed were an apparent change in both terminology and intent from ‘Indigenous Child and Family Centres’, to ‘Indigenous focused’ centres; and a suggestion that the Multifunctional Aboriginal Childcare Services (MACS) services could ‘top-up’ their funding if they surrender their MACS status as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled services. This report is an update in relation to these matters

Since SNAICC News went to print, SNAICC has been in conversation with staff at the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), who have carriage of the ICFC roll-out, in conjunction with state governments.

SNAICC have been assured that all parties seek to achieve the best outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, that there is no ulterior intent in the use of the term ‘focused’ and that should MACS accept additional funds they would neither be disadvantaged by any policy intent, nor would their Indigenous community controlled status be compromised. As these processes are under development, no promises could be made, but SNAICC EO Frank Hytten accepted these assurances as being in good faith.

However, given the complexity of the implementation across all levels of government and the need to ensure that the SNAICC’s message is heard, a close watch needs to be kept on the unfolding process. Decision makers need to fully understand the core issues around cultural safety and Indigenous community control and that this is the best mechanism to ‘Close the Gap’ and perhaps achieve even better outcomes.

Our conversation with government is continuing. We will keep you informed but you can make your views known at both state and federal levels to your key public servants and Ministers. Key contact email addresses for the federal Ministers and your own state and territory agencies are available here.

The 35 Child and Family Centres and the MACS

See the full article in the August - September 2009 edition of the SNAICC Newletter  (hard copy newlsetter distribution nationally)

35 Indigenous Child and Family Centres: What Progress?

See also - News item 22 June 2009

SNAICC continues to track the progress of the implementation of the 35 new integrated Indigenous children and family centres being planned by DEEWR and state and territory governments as part of the National Partnership Agreement Regarding Indigenous Early Childhood Development.

The Commonwealth has allocated the money for these centres to state and territory governments who are required as part of the Partnership Agreement to conduct "extensive consultations with key stakeholders .... including Indigenous communities."

SNAICC is developing a national overview about what consultations have already taken place and which centres are already being planned. If you have participated in any consultations, know of any centres that are in the planning stages and have any issues you would like to discuss or would like SNAICC to take up at the state/ territory or national level please contact SNAICC.

35 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Family Centres Planned

See also - News item 06 April 2009

SNAICC welcomes the Council of Australian Governments  (COAG) National Partnership Agreement regarding Indigenous Early Childhood Development which provides for a minimum of 35 Indigenous Children and Family Centres to be established nationally by 2014 with funding of $292 million. Some of the details of the planning and development of the centres known to SNAICC at this stage are as follows:

The centres will be split between states and territories as follows:

Centres NSW QLD VIC SA WA TAS NT ACT total
Regional/remote 4 5 1 2 4 0  4 0 20
Urban 5 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 15
Total 9 9 2 3 5 1 5 1 35



The funding is available over six years 2008-89 – 2013-14 for both capital works and for operational funding.

The Commonwealth Government will allocate the money for these centres to state and territory governments who will manage all aspects of its allocation including the planning and consultation process for the centres and report back to a COAG steering committee.

The funding can be used for existing services as well as for the establishment of new services. The outcomes sought by the agreement are:

  • Increased proportion of Indigenous children participating in quality early childhood education and development and child care services; and
  • Increased proportion of Indigenous people using parent and family support services.

Good consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities about where the centres should be, what services they should provide and who they should be managed by will, in SNAICC’s view determine whether these outcomes will be properly achieved.

The Partnership Agreement states that consultations with In

Contacts for key federal and state agencies involved in the roll out of the 35 children & family centres:

Address correspondence to:

  • The Hon. Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth; Minister for Sport.  E: Kate.Ellis.MP@aph.gov.au

cc. copies to federal and your state/territory ministers & lead officers

  • The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs  E: jmacklin.mp@aph.gov.au
    The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery E:minister.snowdon.office@health.gov.au
SA lead department and officers
  • Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, South Australian Minister for Early Childhood Development, E: minister.weatherill@saugov.sa.gov.au
  • Chris Eccles, Chief Executive, Department of Premier and Cabinet, E: eccles.chris@dpc.sa.gov.au
  • Kathryn Jordan, Manager, Children’s Centres Project, Department of Education and Childhood Services E: jordan.kathryn.decs@sa.gov.au 
QLD lead department and officers
  • Geoff Wilson MP, Minister for Education & Training, E: education@ministerial.qld.gov.au
  • Julie Grantham, Director General Office for Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education and Training, E: julie.grantham@deta.qld.gov.au
  • Eva Lietzow, Principal Policy Officer, Strategic Initiatives. Office for Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education and Training
    E: eva.lietzow@deta.qld.gov.au
    • SA lead department and officers
  • Kathryn Jordan Manager, Children’s Centres Project Department of Education and Community Services 08 8226 1685
    • VIC lead department and officers
    Julia Reid Senior Policy and Project Advisor (Aboriginal Services) Aboriginal Early Years Services Branch Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 03 9651 3355
    ACT lead department and officers
    Helen Pappas Senior Manager Early Intervention and Prevention Unit Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services Phone: 02 6207822
    NT lead department and officers
    Heather Prendergast Manager Early Childhood Policy and Regulations Department of Education and Training 08 8901 1352
    WA lead department and officers
    Robyn Kinkade A/g Manager Special Projects Office of Early Childhood Development and Learning Department of Education and Training 08 9264 5466
    WA lead department and officers
    Craig Layton Principal Policy Officer Human Services and Justice Branch Department of Premier and Cabinet 02 9228 4868
    TAS lead department and officers
    Department of Education

Indicative funding levels for CaFs by jurisdiction

See Table from DEEWR website 20 Dec. 09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNAICC Tools
SNAICC Conference
Service Directory
Support and Management
e-Bulletin