The Australian Government will invest $25 million over eight years to expand the Stronger Communities for Children (SCfC) programme to an additional five Northern Territory communities from July 2014.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said the Government will shortly start a series of consultations in the five communities: Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Lajamanu, Utopia Homelands and Atitjere (incorporating Engawala and Bonya).

“The SCfC programme aims to give children and young people the best possible start in life through the creation of safer families and communities,” Minister Scullion said.

“The programme is delivered through a lead non-government organisation that works closely with a local leadership group to determine what child, youth and family services are required in the community.

“Service providers are then subcontracted to deliver culturally-appropriate services in a range of areas, from family support, to early childhood learning services and services that focus on strengthening community relationships, youth development and leadership.

“The establishment of the SCfC programme is already under way in five NT communities – Wadeye, Galiwin’ku, Ngukurr, Santa Teresa and Ntaria.

“We will consult with each of the five new communities to raise awareness of the programme, identify organisations to be invited to apply for funding, and determine what needs to be done to establish local community boards.”

Minister Scullion said the SCfC model is closely aligned with the Government’s three top priorities in Indigenous affairs of getting children to school every day, adults into work and making communities safer.

“Our new Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) complements the SCfC programme in three communities where the programme has already been introduced: Galiwin’ku, Santa Teresa and Ntaria. The RSAS is also up and running in three of the new SCfC sites: Gunbalanya, Lajamanu and Maningrida,” Minister Scullion said.

The $25 million investment across the five new sites is part of a 10-year, $67 million investment by the Australian Government in the SCfC programme through to 2021-22.

Download media release:
2014-04-04 SCfC Fact Sheet Attachment.pdf