Family Connect and Support (FCS) Brighter Beginnings

What is FCS Brighter Beginnings

Family Connect and Support (FCS) Brighter Beginnings is a joint initiative of the Department of Communities and Justice and the Department of Education. Delivered statewide by FCS providers, it offers early and practical support to families with young children from birth to 5 years.

The initiative builds on the existing FCS initiative under the Community and Family Support (CAFS) program.

FCS Brighter Beginnings is different from other NSW Government Brighter Beginnings initiatives, such as those led by NSW Health. It is delivered by FCS Brighter Beginnings workers who work closely with early learning services to provide practical, early support for families, rather than health‑based services.

How does it work

FCS Brighter Beginnings workers provide outreach through early learning services, such as preschools and childcare centres.

By connecting with families through early learning services, FCS Brighter Beginnings workers help families access support in places they already know and trust.

FCS workers under this initiative can: 

• Provide flexible, tailored support to meet the unique needs of each family. 
• Identify and build on family strengths and resources, both formal and informal, while working in partnership to address concerns. 
• Assist families to stay connected to early learning services by offering practical advice, resources and warm referrals to relevant support services.
• Deliver information sessions or activities for staff and families within early learning services, supporting a more connected service system and making it easier for families to seek help.

Who can receive support

FCS Brighter Beginnings can support families with children who are attending, or want to attend, a Department of Education funded early learning service that is linked to the FCS Brighter Beginnings initiative.

All FCS service providers deliver the FCS Brighter Beginnings program across NSW. Your local FCS provider can let you know which Department of Education funded early learning services are involved.

Families can still receive support through the broader FCS program, even if their child’s early learning service is not currently part of FCS Brighter Beginnings.

To refer a family to an FCS Brighter Beginnings provider or to find out more information, use the FCS Find a Provider tool.

Resources

Find the FCS Brighter Beginnings Guide at Program resources. The guide outlines key service delivery and reporting requirements for service providers of the initiative.

As FCS Brighter Beginnings is part of the CAFS program, this guide should be read in conjunction with the CAFS Program Specifications and the CAFS Data Collection and Reporting Guide.