The Aims of SCFC

• Increase support for the nurturing of young children
• Improve school readiness of young children
• Increase support for children and young people to attend school and gain an education
• Increase opportunities for children, young people and families to participate in cultural events
• Improve family and community safety
• Build community capacity to lead, plan and prioritise services that children, youth and families need
• Build the capacity of Aboriginal organisations to deliver these services and increase local employment opportunities

Where is it happening?

Stronger Communities for Children projects were established in Ngukurr, Galiwin’ku, Wadeye, Ntaria and Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) in 2013. In 2015, an additional five projects were established in Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Utopia Homelands, Plenty Hwy (Atitjere & Engawala) and Lajamanu.

How does it work?

SCfC operates through a Local Community Board, comprising local Aboriginal community members, whose role it is to:

• Work with the wider community to identify SCfC priorities
• Develop a long term vision and strategies for SCfC, captured in a Local Community Plan
• Make decisions
• Deliver services or activities that are most needed in communities
• Work with the Facilitating Partner to develop a suitable Monitoring and Evaluation framework in order to review how services or activities are going

The SCfC Local Community Board works with a lead non-government organisation, or a ‘Facilitating Partner’, whose role it is to:

• Support the SCfC Local Community Board to do its job
• Take advice from the SCfC Local Community Board on how to run SCfC and operate at capacity
• Work with the SCfC Local Community Board to ensure local services work together to support children and families in the community
• Develop and deliver a Community Plan in accordance with the budget
• Manage contracting and subcontracting arrangements for organisations and individuals who are delivering SCfC services and activities to the community
• Help get local people into SCfC jobs and training