Ballina to get new Children and Family Centre
The Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, has welcomed the announcement that Ballina is to be the site of the one of the first Children and Family Centres in New South Wales.
Ms Saffin said the new centre will have a range of quality early learning, child care and family support programs aimed at improving the quality of life for Ballina children and their families
“We all recognise the importance of the early years of a child’s development, and this Centre aims to give local young children the best possible start, to set the pattern for their lives,” she said.
“The new Ballina Child and Family Centre will also offer assistance and education programs for parents.
“While the Centre will offer programs and services specifically tailored to the needs of Indigenous families, it is designed to assist all children and families.
“The Ballina Children and Family Centre is being funded under the Council of Australian Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Development.
“The Australian Government is contributing $74.7 million for the establishment of nine centres in New South Wales over six years, with the first three centres announced to be in Ballina, Blacktown and Campbelltown.
“I am pleased to see that Ballina was chosen as a site, because this is an area with a significant proportion of Indigenous children under five years old.
“The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments are working together to close the gap in levels of disadvantage between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children, and to give all children the best start in life.
“The New South Wales Government will consult with the Ballina community about the specific site for the centre and the type of services the community would like included.”
The Ballina Child and Family Centre is expected to be established by early 2011. More information is available at www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood.
