First Nations children in the Ballarat area are being supported through the expansion of the nationwide Connected Beginnings program.
Delivered in the area in partnership with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative, the program connects First Nations children aged zero to five with a range of services to ensure they get the best start in life.
They include early childhood health, education, and family supports, all designed to assist First Nations children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school.
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) chief executive Karen Heap said the $1.8 million in federal government assistance will support First Nations children and their families at all early development stages.
"We are absolutely delighted to receive Connected Beginnings funding, which will improve the lives of Aboriginal children and their families, to enhance better outcomes from pregnancy right through to school age," Ms Heap said.
The new site in Ballarat will support approximately 350 First Nations children from the local area.
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) chief executive Catherine Liddle, said the Ballarat Aboriginal community is very supportive of both the Connected Beginnings and of BADAC for taking on the key role to drive the program.
"BADAC's experience in delivering early childhood programs and family support services, along with their record in building strong community networks, gives them a strong foundation to build a program informed by local knowledge," Ms Liddle said.
"Under Connected Beginnings, more Aboriginal children in the Ballarat region will have access to culturally safe integration of services such as maternal and child health, early childhood education and care and family support services.
"They will get the support they need to ensure they have a successful transition to big school."
The federal government partners with both SNAICC and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to deliver Connected Beginnings nationwide, a community-led project currently achieving results for approximately 16,500 First Nations children across the country.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said Connected Beginnings is about setting First Nations children up with the best start in life.
"This community led approach in Ballarat will help ensure First Nations families get the support they need to help young ones be ready for school and thrive in their education and into the future," Senator McCarthy said.
The $1.8 million in funding for the new Ballarat site is part of an $81.8 million investment to expand the program to 50 sites nationwide.
Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said BADAC has a proven track record of providing culturally sensitive and high-quality early education to children in the region.
"Their early learning centres have been a great success and with BADAC now running the Connected Beginnings program locally, even more First Nations children will be supported and school ready," Ms King said.
"The Ballarat Connected Beginnings will provide wrap-around education and health support services to up to 350 local First Nations children in the critical first five years of life."
The federal government says once all 50 Connected Beginnings sites are established, the program has the capacity to support up to 20 per cent of all First Nations children aged zero to five.
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr Anne Aly, said the structure of Connected Beginnings means each community is empowered to design and deliver the program in a way which supports their individual needs and aspirations.
"All children, no matter their background or where they live, should be able to access the transformational benefits of quality early childhood education and care," Dr Aly said.
"The program is delivering significant positive results for First Nations children, we're already seeing an increase in the hours of early childhood education and care along with an increase in preschool enrolments."
In addition to Ballarat, Victorian Connected Beginnings sites also include Mildura, Shepparton and Whittlesea.
