Bairnsdale the latest community to benefit from Connected Beginnings program

Children and families living in the Victorian community of Bairnsdale will be the latest to benefit from the Connected Beginnings program which helps more First Nations children thrive in the crucial early years.

More than $2 million in funding was announced yesterday by Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly for the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative (GEGAC) to deliver the program in Bairnsdale.

“We have long known that the strength of GEGAC’s Early Years services is that the families are immediately connected to the wide range of other services that GEGAC provides,” CEO Kenton Winsley said.

“Everything from maternal and child health services to medical and dental, counselling services, and cultural education events; here on site are the full range of supports our families need to raise healthy, deadly kids.”

“Connected Beginnings is going to enable us to take that holistic, connected approach to the next level, by engaging with new partners, and further involving the community, so we are all working together in the best interests of these children.”

“Our community is where we draw our strength from. We know that when we involve community members and empower them to be advisors and advocates, we get better outcomes for our people.”

Connected Beginnings connects First Nations children aged zero to five years of age with a range of early childhood education, health and family support services – helping children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school.

The new Bairnsdale site will support around 100 local First Nations Children, and joins 46 other locations across the country which collectively support more than 23,000 First Nations children. 

Other Connected Beginnings sites in Victoria include Ballarat, Mildura, Shepparton and Whittlesea.

Once all Victorian sites are up and running the program will support around 1,700 First Nations children across the state.

“Connected Beginnings is all about centring the voices of First Nations Australian and a community-led approach,” .Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health The Hon Ged Kearney MP said.

“From child care, to pre-school, to primary school, Connected Beginnings is setting First Nations kids up for the best start in life.”

The community-led program is a key contributor to the early childhood Closing the Gap targets, driving an increase in preschool enrolments and improvements to developmental outcomes.

The Government partners with SNAICC National Voice for our Children and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to deliver the program.

“The Connected Beginnings program is empowering communities to design and deliver the program in a way which supports their individual needs and aspirations,” Dr Aly said.

“All children, no matter their background or where they live, should be able to access the transformational benefits of quality early childhood education and care.”

Learn more about the Connected Beginnings program here.