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The Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy has now concluded, but The Benevolent Society aims to continue to build on some of the outcomes of the Strategy. The aim of the strategy was to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, and their families and communities by improving how government, communities and services work together.  The Strategy's approach was to take action at a statewide, regional and local level and included the following three strategies:

1. Developing and implementing community and service plans.
2. Promoting culturally appropriate research and data that reflects Aboriginal health and wellbeing issues and using this research and data to improve services.
3. Working within current partnership agreements in Aboriginal Affairs.

The projects delivered on the Central Coast to support this Strategy included:

Aboriginal Mothers and Babies Project (Woy Woy and Peninsula, Gosford LGA)

This project aimed to improve access to care and support during pregnancy and post birth (for up to six weeks) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Specialist Aboriginal service providers were assisted through this project to enhance their information and improve the levels of support for Aboriginal families living in the area.

Aboriginal Early Intervention Family Worker (Woy Woy and Peninsula, Gosford LGA)

The Family Worker developed and implemented culturally appropriate strategies to enhance the skills and confidence of Aboriginal parents to have a positive effect on their children’s educational, social and health outcomes. The service focuses on families with new babies, first-time parents and families with special needs and also provides support to families during the antenatal period.

Aboriginal Community Information Strategy

This strategy responded to the information needs of the community and involved a number of activities including the production of an Aboriginal Community Services Directory and user friendly Information Cards which contain important contacts and phone numbers. Targeted Aboriginal School Transition Activities were also undertaken to develop and implement transition to school activities for Aboriginal children starting kindergarten with the aim of improving their educational outcomes. We also worked collaboratively with two established Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups to identify and plan projects for preschool to kindergarten children and to better engage Aboriginal children from years 6-7 on the Central Coast.

Young Black and Ready for School

This program identified Aboriginal children starting school in the Woy Woy, Umina and Peninsula areas and linked them with the most appropriate programs on offer for starting school.  A health screening day for Aboriginal families and their children was also held to screen for vision, hearing, dental, speech and immunisation and where necessary, referrals are made to other appropriate services.