A Federal Government grant of $660,000 and recurrent funding of $275,000 per annum will see the development of this innovative centre. The centre is expected to be operating by March 2001.
Nguiu Community Government Council was established under the Northern Territory Local Government Act in 1987. This Community Council is located on Bathurst Island, 80 kilometres north of Darwin. The main township, Nguiu has a population of 1,450 people.
The new centre will provide a 40 place licensed centrebased long day care service for the preschool aged children and an after school care and vacation care program for the primary school children aged 6-12 years.
Other services will include a nutrition program to provide breakfast for children before they go to school and to educate parents/families on nutrition; a day patrol to improve the school attendance rate; monitoring the health of children using the centre, including referral to the Health Clinic staff where a child is considered at risk; and a family and parenting program to provide support to families on parenting issues.
A variety of other family services currently funded and operating in different parts of the community, such as the Hearing Program, Dental Program and Homemaker Program, may also be transferred to the new centre.
This will provide a ‘one stop shop’ facility, where most family and children’s services will be provided to members of the Nguiu community.
Development of policy and guidelines for the centre involved local Tiwi people and other stakeholders identified as having roles in support for children and family services in the community.
For further information contact Bernie McCarthy, Council Clerk, telephone (08) 8978 3600.
