Connected Beginnings program expands into the ACT

The Federal Government is expanding the successful Connected Beginnings program, ensuring more First Nations children thrive in the crucial early years. 

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly announced $2.2 million in funding yesterday for Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Services to deliver the Connected Beginnings program in Canberra’s south.

The Connected Beginnings program empowers communities to design initiatives that meet their unique needs, ensuring children are ready for big school, aiming to create a strong foundation for their educational journey by offering integrated, culturally safe services—from early childhood care to health and family support.

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

The program connects First Nations children aged birth 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.

With the addition of the South Canberra site there are now 49 locations across the country collectively supporting more than 24,200 First Nations children.

“I am very pleased to see the Connected Beginnings program expand to South Canberra. Winnunga Nimmityjah is a pillar of our community, and this investment will help ensure that they can give more First Nations children in Canberra the support they need to thrive in their early years and make a strong start to their education,” Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne said.

“This program represents what can be achieved when we take a community-led, culturally safe approach to Closing the Gap. It is an investment in our children, their families, and the future of Canberra as a place where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

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 new site is part of an Australian Government $81.8 million investment to expand the program to 50 sites across the country. Once all 50 sites are established, the program has the potential to support up to 20 per cent of all First Nations children aged from birth to five years of age.

The new Connected Beginnings site joins an existing site already supporting First Nations Children in the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) north. Together the sites will be able to support all of the First Nations children across the ACT.

Learn more about the Connected Beginnings program here.