From 2020 to 2021, SNAICC – National Voice of our Children identified good practices of early intervention and family support programs that are being delivered by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations across the nation. These profiles demonstrate how community-controlled organisations are achieving positive results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families, including supporting these children to be kept safe from harm, uphold their right to grow up within their own family and community, and access critical health and early education services.
Click on the profile images below to read and download the profiles
Organisation | Project Title | Project Description |
Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS) | The Kids Team | A multidisciplinary group of healthcare workers who regularly meet to share expertise and discuss how to improve support of AWAHS’s more vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, to achieve the best healthcare outcomes for children. (NSW) |
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress | Child and Youth Assessment and Treatment Service (CYATS) |
As the first of its kind in the Northern Territory, CYATS provides free diagnostic assessments and therapeutic interventions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who may have neurodevelopmental delays or disorders. (NT) |
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress | Family Support Service | A culturally safe family support service provided through a bi-cultural pairing model and culturally adapted program tools; connecting vulnerable families with an Aboriginal Family Support Worker and a caseworker to build each family’s capacity and resilience and create safety and stability for their children. (NT) |
Gumala Aboriginal Corporation | 3a Playgroups | Playgroups that have adapted the Abecedarian Approach Australia methodology to specifically support vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, providing a culturally safe space where families can connect with each other and external support agencies. (WA) |
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health | Birthing in Our Community (BiOC) | Indigenous-led model of care for pregnant mothers or mothers raising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies that supports these women to break down the barriers that prevent them from engaging with health service supports and empowers them to be strong, confident and thriving mothers. (QLD) |
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation | Intensive Supported Playgroups | Playgroups for children aged 0-5 where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families’ needs can be addressed and families are supported to break down barriers preventing them from accessing early childhood education and health services. (NSW) |
Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS) | Yamani Meta Family Wellbeing House | A culturally safe community space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families benefit from health, wellbeing and education programs and specialists in a single location, while building personal networks and peer supports. (QLD) |
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) | Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder (AC2K) | An intensive and longer-term antenatal and postnatal Aboriginal home-visitation and advocacy program designed to build the overall capacity of vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers during pregnancy until the child is aged four years. (VIC) |
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) | Koorie Kids Supported Playgroups | Local community-based supported playgroups that bring together preschool-aged children and their parents/carers to facilitate play and social activities with a focus on parental participation and child directed learning. (VIC) |
Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation | Nabu Aboriginal family preservation and restoration program | A family preservation and restoration program that supports women and their Aboriginal families with wraparound services to strengthen the family, keep members safely together, and help women build a sense of belonging to community and Country. (NSW) |
Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) | Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program (ANFPP) | Home-visiting health and wellbeing program that supports vulnerable first-time mothers who are pregnant with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in the Dubbo and Blacktown regions. (NSW) |