OfficeofChildrenandFamilies
EDITION13 DECEMBER2012
Welcome
Welcometothe 13th edition ofthe OCFConnect eNewsletter – your monthly update on news, events and information from the Office of Children and Families (OCF).
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IN THISEDITION
�Northern TerritoryGovernment MiniBudget
boostsfrontlineservices
�Women’sSafe House - winnersofa Chief
Minister’sAward
�Inthe Spotlight:Familiesas FirstTeachers
program
�2013 Roberta Sykes Harvard ClubScholarship
�TheNT LongDay Care Upgrade Grant
NorthernTerritory GovernmentMiniBudget boostsfrontlineservices
Earlier this week the NorthernTerritoryGovernment handed down a mini-budget - the contents ofwhich will have a significant effect on both the Office of Children and Families (OCF)and the NGOchild protection and youth sectors.
Inrecognition ofthe continued increase in the demand forchild protection and out-of- home care
services, the Government has committed a further
$10 million toOCFbringing the Budget to$188.5 million.
With the creation ofthe new Department ofEducation and Children’s Services, significant work has been undertaken with OCFtoprogress integration of services.Adraftjoint strategic plan is currently being developed forconsultation in the NewYearand the two agencies are considering lighthouse (pilot) sites across theTerritorytodevelop best practice initiatives thatwill improve children’s educational outcomes and reduce the need forstatutoryintervention.
Assessing funding levels tothe non-government sector has been driven by the need toredirect resources into statutoryand frontline services. OCF’s investment in non-government services and programs will increasingly align with the business objectives of OCFand the needs ofthe mostvulnerable and atrisk children and families.
Services thatcan work with clients in contact with
the child protection system,and can deliver intensive family support and high quality out-of-home-care services will be the priority forfunding.
There will be $4.8 million redirected from existing and planned future NGO services in 2012/13.Asignificant portion ofthis is achieved through redirection of funding and savings through re-scoping ofservices, and refocusing on delivering services tofamilies involved in the child protection system.
Only $1.8 million will be derived as a result of agreements ending this financial year.Ten non- government organisations will be directly affected through either a reduction in funding, funding being ceased, or as part ofthe re-scoping offunding tonon- government services.
This re-prioritisation ofNGOfunding will deliver more tothe areas ofgreatest growth and need with the delivery ofhigh quality family support and out-of- home-care services the central focus.
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Women’sSafeHouse- winnersofaChiefMinister’s Award
Women’s Safe House workers fromThe Office of Children and Families’Remote Services division have been recognised fortheir commitment tothe safetyof women and children across the Northern territory as part ofthe annual Chief Minister’sAwards.
The Women’sSafe Houses in Remote Communities initiative took out top honours in the ‘Enriching our Society’category,which attracted seven nominees and came down to three finalists.The award recognises outstanding achievements thatsafeguard and care forTerritorians,and encourage a society thatembraces equity,diversity and culture.
Representing the WurrumiyangaSafe House atthe awards ceremony was Sandy Punguatji and Marie FrancisTipiloura,and from the WugularrSafe House were SarahAshley and SandraAshley.
Women’sSafe Houses have been established in 12 remote communities across the NTsince 2009.They provide a refuge forwomen and children escaping family violence, and provides them time and space
tothink about options fortheir family in a safe and supportive environment. From 2009 toJune 2012 the program has provided emergency accommodation to
997 women and 850 accompanying children.
The Program employs community-basedAboriginal women, which ensures thatthe service is provided
in a culturally safe and supportive manner by women who know the day-to-day issues faced by the clients.
Inhonour oftheir win, OCFChief Executive Clare
Gardiner-Barnes (picture farright) presented the Remote Services team atCasuarina with a celebratory cake and congratulated the team on their outstanding achievement.
In theSpotlight:Familiesas
FirstTeachersprogram
Families as FirstTeachers(FaFT)is an early learning and family support program forremote Indigenous families with children prior toschool entry,who live in
20 communities.
Mobile FaFTworks tosupport children and families in
24 smaller remote communities in centralAustralia, the Barkly and Katherine regions. (Pictured left: Ntaria Early Learning playgroup).
FaFTaims todevelop place-based programs to engage families in giving their children the best start in life. Itis respectful ofIndigenous child rearing practices and is strength based.
The program is holistic in its design and
acknowledges the important role thatfamilies have as the first teacher of their children.The program builds family knowledge ofchild development, providing quality early learning experiences and promoting positive parent adult interactions. Parent knowledge and skills ofearly learning and development, child health, hygiene, and child nutrition are important elements ofadult capacity building.
Each program employs an early childhood professional, supported by a local Indigenous community member.FaFTprovides an integrated services approach toeducating young children
and supporting families by working in collaboration with other agencies and organisations tomeet the individual needs offamilies.
Strong partnerships with the Department ofHealth, shires, schools, and other agencies are critical forthe program’s success.
For further information about FaFTprogram across
the NTcontactAshlee Blackman, call (08) 8999 3550, or visit the FaFTwebsite.
2013RobertaSykesHarvard
ClubScholarship
The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Foundation, in conjunction with the Harvard Club ofAustralia, is offeringa fully-funded scholarship forone Indigenous Australian toundertake a postgraduate degree at Harvard University commencing inAugust 2013.
Applicationsfor the Roberta Sykes Harvard Club
Scholarshipclose on15 December 2012.
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The value ofthe scholarship is up to$60,000 per annum tobe paid over the course ofthe scholar’s study.
The Scholarship covers university fees,travel costs and living expenses.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
�be ofAboriginal orTorresStraitIslander descent
�be accepted tothe Harvard graduate school of
their choice
�be able todemonstrate thattheir studies will be
of benefit to their community upon their return to
Australia.
Selection ofsuccessful applications will be based on:
�Academic merit
�The applicant’s past and future contributions to
Indigenous communities and the wider community.
For more details aboutThe Roberta Sykes Harvard Club Scholarship, please go to
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorwishtodiscussyour application,pleasecalltheAuroraProjecton02
94698100oremailWendyWishartat
TheNT LongDayCare
UpgradeGrant
The NTLong Day Care Upgrade Grant,formally known as the NTChild Care Licence Related Upgrade Grant,is a funding initiative ofthe Early Childhood Policy and Regulation division ofOCF.
The purpose ofthis support program is toprovide
approved community-based and not-for-profit long
day care services with financial assistance for building and ground upgrades required toensure compliance with the Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation)Act2011 and the
Education and Care Services National Regulations. Currently,45 services are eligible toapply forthis
annual grant. In2012, 22 applications were received
seeking funding for35 projects valued atalmost
$470,000. Grantswere awarded to15 applicants for
22 projects.
Twoservices have recently completed their projects funded under this grant, including Dripstone Children’s Centre which was granted $7414 for
the construction ofnew shade sails over their play
equipment and five roller blinds on their veranda.
The Malak Family Centre received $47,194 in funding torenovate their bathroom, which was in desperate need ofan upgrade.
These upgrades are terrific outcomes, especially for
the children enrolled atthese services.
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