Benevolent Society - Macleay Valley Communities for Children Plus

Macleay Valley Communities for Children

Communities for Children is a Federal Government initiative, under the FaHCSIA Family Support Program. The objective of this Program is to provide integrated services for families, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged families or in disadvantaged communities, to improve child wellbeing and development, safety and family functioning and to help build stronger, more resilient families and communities.

Who are we?

We are managed by The Benevolent Society with guidance and support from the Macleay Valley Communities for Children Advisory Committee. The Committee is made up of a cross section of the community including community members, government (local and state) and non government organisation representatives. If you are interested in being involved please complete an Expression of Interest form.

Download a copy of the Advisory Committee Expression of Interest Form.

What do we do?

The Benevolent Society is the facilitating partner for the Macleay Valley Communities for Children program. The Benevolent Society’s role is to support and fund local service providers (Community Partners) so they can deliver a range of different services and programs throughout the Macleay Valley (See programs currently funded below). Over the last year we have been talking to the community and community organisations about the best way to use this funding. We have developed a Community Strategic Plan to outline how we will do this.

Download a copy of the Community Strategic Plan.

Our vision

Macleay Valley Communities for Children Plus (C4C+) will encourage a culture of positive change for the communities, families and children (0-12) of the Macleay Valley.

We will hear, acknowledge, respect and celebrate the diversity and resilience of our many communities by:

Creating loving, caring and sharing environments that are safe for all children and families.
Progressively promoting resilience for children and families from across the Macleay Valley.
Bringing families, communities and services together to challenge systems in a partnership for change.
Valuing and respecting self, others and the Macleay Valley communities’ environments.

2012 Current Funding

Monday

12 March

Friday

30 March

Tuesday

10 April

Friday

27 April

Friday

11 May

June

2012

Project Briefs made available

Submission of Expression of Interest

Panel review of EOI completed

Supported project development of EOI

Submission of Funding Application

Panel review completed

Successful applicants funded

Funding is currently available under the following strategies.

Strategy One

This strategy identifies the need to build partnerships with families and the community to challenge current and historical system failures. It recognises that services have in the past worked hard to meet their aims and have had successful programs, meeting their outcomes for individual families. However, without change to the systems the most vulnerable families, including those experiencing child protections concerns in the Macleay Valley continue to experience disadvantage.

It recognises the need for services to build partnerships with families to ensure adult issues such as violence, domestic violence, mis-use of drugs and alcohol and mental health issues are addressed to ensure a safe and nurturing environment exists for children. In addition, whilst acknowledging the significance of family, this strategy also recognises the need for systemic change, the need to highlight issues such as discrimination, racism and child abuse. All very difficult community issues that need attention. It recognises that for systemic change to occur, families, communities and services need to work collaboratively.

Strategy Two

This strategy recognises that education at a child, family and community level has a positive impact on the life long outcomes of children. It recognises the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) information which indicates that children across the Kempsey Shire are rating as vulnerable in 1 or 2 of its domains at a rate higher and in some cases much higher than the national average. The AEDI measures five domains of early childhood development as they enter school. It also recognises that a child's development in the first few years of life sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and health (McCain & Mustard 1999; Greenwood 1999). This includes ante-natal and post-natal health. Community level education can improve direct service delivery, improve systems of service delivery, support recruitment and retention of workers, diminish prejudice and build the capacity of families.

This strategy recognised capacity building is not a development of abilities but a redressing of the inequalities of resources and opportunities to practice and develop those abilities, to this end experiential learning activities will be paramount. It will provide support for families and services to implement age appropriate developmental activities.

Strategy Three

This strategy acknowledges that the Macleay Valley deeply values its cultural heritage. The activities funded under this strategy will promote children, families and communities linking with the cultural and historical strengths of loving, caring and sharing. Hearing the stories of the past and building on the strengths of today will be paramount in healing the communities of the Macleay Valley and providing for their children. This strategy needs time to make a difference and then will in turn contribute positively to the future of the children, families and communities of the Macleay Valley.

Strategy Four

This strategy will build a community that engages with the diversity of the Macleay Valley. Children and families will experience acceptance and be supported to access health and education services that demonstrate culturally appropriate practices. Families that have previously been “hard to engage” will have services entry points and systems that support their engagement. Small communities within the Macleay Valley will have access to services through outreach options or better coordinated transport services.