The Territory Labor Government has invested $2.7 million to establish and operate a new Child and Family Centre service across town camps in Alice Springs.
The service is to be run over five years in partnership with Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation.
Using a 'hub and spoke' approach, TCAC will work with families across the Larapinta Learning Centre, Hidden Valley Community Centre, Truckies Community Centre, southern camps and northern camps to coordinate the delivery of support services to children, young people and families and assist them to navigate the local service system to ensure they get the help they need.
Support services families will be able to access include maternal and child health; early childhood development and learning; and parenting support.
Following the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory Government committed to investing $11.4 million across four years to establish 11 additional Child and Family Centres, expanding the network of centres to 17 locations.
The Alice Springs Child and Family Centre will be the fifth Aboriginal Community Controlled Child and Family Centre, with operations planned to commence in August this year.
Others include:
· Darwin Northern Suburbs (Darrandirra), operated by CAAPS;
· Big Rivers Child and Family Centre in Katherine, operated by Kalano Community Association;
· Kalkarindji Dagarugu Child and Family Centre, operated by the Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation; and
· Marlungku – Kari in Tennant Creek, operated by Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation.
There are also six child and family centres operated by the Northern Territory Government, in Palmerston, Ngukurr, Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Yuendumu and Larapinta in Alice Springs.
Child and family centres are established and supported through Local Decision Making. Tangentyere Council was recommended by the Alice Springs Town Camps associations, and supported by other Alice Springs Aboriginal Controlled Organisations.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Lauren Moss:
Child and Family Centres assist families to access a range of support services and are also designed to strengthen family and community capacity to raise happy, healthy children who are connected to their community.
"These services are key support services in communities - acting as conduits to deliver essential services to children, young people and families and helping them navigate the local service system, to ensure they receive the help they need.
"These centres are a great asset and I know this new service will be well received by the Alice Springs community."
