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Aboriginal Child and Family Centres (ACFCs) offer culturally-safe services to families with Aboriginal children aged up to 8 years of age. The centres provide communities with access to early childhood education and care services, child and maternal health programs as well as family support, playgroups and adult education opportunities.
There are currently nine ACFCs operating across NSW. The NSW Government has begun an expansion of the program to establish additional centres in NSW.
Watch the videos below to see the amazing things happening in ACFCs in NSW or read on below to learn more.
ACFCs deliver a cultural model of care, based on Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.
The services within an ACFC are delivered by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Access to high-quality early childhood education, care and health checks is a critical to making sure babies and children have the best start in life and that their families and communities are supported. This increased access to directly contributes to Closing the Gap.
ACFCs are providing this for Aboriginal families in NSW.
The Cultural & Indigenous Research Centre Australia evaluation report that ACFCs are successfully:
ACFCs contribute to multiple Closing the Gap targets, including:
ACFCs provide a wide range of culturally-safe integrated services tailored to the needs of Aboriginal families in that community. These services go beyond standard early childhood education and are designed to address holistic wellbeing, cultural connection, and community empowerment. The full list of services can include the following:
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) are the primary service providers in ACFCs. They deliver early childhood education, health services, parenting programs, and more. Their involvement ensures that services are culturally appropriate, trusted, and effective.
Learn more about about our commitment to ACCOs and how to demonstrate eligibility for ACCO contracts for the delivery of human services on our website
DCJ is establishing six more ACFCs and upgrading existing ACFCs in NSW through the ACFC Expansion and Enhancement program. The ACFC Expansion Program is funded under the NSW Brighter Beginnings initiative.
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