Federal Government to invest in early years training as part of suicide prevention plan

The Australian Government will invest $10,000 in training early childhood educators who work with Indigenous families to help them to support at risk children, as part of a broader $503 million Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.

In an announcement made last week, Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan said representatives from the Connected Beginnings project would provide lessons from the successful program at ChangeFest19, a forum in the Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt.

Mr Tehan outlined the Government’s annual $12 million investment in the Connected Beginnings program, which aims to bring together early childhood education, family health and support services in communities facing disadvantage.

“Our Government is funding information sessions run by the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation to share what has been learned from this successful program. Mental health experts will provide valuable advice to staff working in communities across Australia on strategies to improve support for children and families that need it most,” Mr Tehan said. 

For more information about Connected Beginnings please see here.