Communities for Children – what is it?

Communities for Children is a whole of community approach to early intervention within the Lower Great Southern region. In conjunction with our Community partners, we’ve developed flexible and innovative strategies to focus on the needs of particular target groups within the region (for example, vulnerable families, Indigenous Australians or families in rural and remote communities).

Communities for Children is funded by the Australian Government through the Department for Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). The program comes under the umbrella of the Federal Government’s Family Support Program (FSP). For more information on the FSP, see the 'Relevant Links' box at the bottom of the page.

From January 2010 – June 2012,  we’re building on existing programs, and also developing new partnerships.

Wanslea Family Services

Wanslea provides support for a wide range of child and family focussed community based hubs around the region. Hub activities may include providing workshops, organising guest speakers and providing community based activities for families.

Palmerston Association

The provision of an outreach worker in Katanning will help local mums (whose lives are affected by drug and/or alcohol use) to access playgroup and other community services.

Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre (RCNC)

Communities for Children funding helps to support young mums in the transition to parenthood.

Mt Barker Baptist Church and Plantagenet Community College

A Mount Barker homework club located in the new community centre has been established to support school aged kids and their younger siblings after school. 

Community Hubs

Run in local organisations and responding  to the needs and interests of the local community.  Community hubs provide evidence-based children’s activities and parenting information sessions to improve family functioning and promote child development. There are currently 19 hubs and each has developed its own program as can be seen below:

Mount Lockyer Primary School’s Moorditj Coolangars Solid Kids Hub run information sessions for families about health and education, home visits to encourage attendance and discuss support options, and a designated drop-in space.  The Moorditj Coolangars Hub has been recognised nationally by the Prime Minister’s Social Inclusion Board as an example of a site promoting learning and building strong networks and support.

Djerup Djerup Coorlingah Hub in Katanning is creating books illustrated by local children focussing on Noongar language and involving parents in the children’s literacy and numeracy skills. 

Tambellup Noongar School Readiness program helps kids from Noongar families who are soon to start school to make the transition. 

Kendenup Kids Hub runs storytime, activities and singing, and parenting information sessions.  The child health nurse attends regularly to answer questions about the child development.

Kulbardi Hub for Noongar families (Albany).
Noongar Children’s Community Hub (Gnowangerup).
Literacy and Language Links Hub (Mt Barker). 
Katanning Community Kids Hub.
Hub for Bubs (Cranbrook). 
Denmark Family Place Hub.
Before School Reading and Breakfast Program Hub (Albany). 
Transition to Kindy program hub (Albany).
Parents Learning about Youngsters Hub (Wellstead). 
Socialising with Language and Literacy Hub (Nyabing).
Community Links towards Better Literacy Hub (Bremer Bay).
Family Friendly Library and Early Morning Fitness Club (Albany).
Reach your Peak through Literacy and Play Hub (South Stirling). 
Community Garden Hub (Albany). 
Jerry Storybags for Little Kids Hub (Jerramungup).
 

Communities for Children activities through GSGPN

The Community Activities Fund (formerly Fabulous Family Funding) provides grant assistance for small community not-for-profit groups to fund projects that encourage family involvement, and build resilience and capacity in communities.

Ngullar Maaman Wonginyin (Our Men Talking) Noongar dads group will meet fortnightly in Albany and monthly in Gnowangerup to support dads and promote good health.

A Dietetic service is available to provide nutrition and physical activity education. 

The Early Parenting Newsletters (ages and stages of child development) will be translated into Dari (spoken in Afghanistan) and Karen (Burmese).

Boodjarri Yorga (Pregnant Women) aboriginal antenatal program continues to have close ties with Communities for Children, and is an existing GSGPN program.