Mr KURRUPUWU - 2016-05-26
Can you please update the House on the Great Start Great Future – Northern Territory Early Years Strategy Plan 2016-2020?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a fantastic question from the member for Arafura, someone who understands how important it is to start with children as early as possible to ensure they have a wonderful educational opportunity into the future.
The Country Liberal government recognises the importance of providing the best possible start for all children in the Northern Territory. We are committed to investing in and providing early years’ education and care for all children from birth to eight years of age.
This government knows that having the right start in life is essential for children later in life. We know that a child’s early years shape their ability to thrive at school, to stay healthy and socially connected, and to contribute to society socially and economically.
This $19m strategy is designed to increase the capacity of families and communities to care for their children and respond to their health development, safety and wellbeing. This plan will deliver a quality system which focuses on integrated services delivered by a qualified, supported and local workforce. Jobs, community and prosperity are what it is about.
An amount of $1m will see the Families as First Teachers program expand even further across urban sites, which will include the delivery from multiple sites in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs, including the Larapinta Families as First Teachers program.
This is in addition to the $11.1m also included in the Indigenous Education Strategy for existing Families as First Teachers sites.
By December 2017, FaFT will expand to 32 remote and very remote communities across the Territory. This is evidence of this government’s commitment to investing in building stronger communities.
An amount of $200 000 is invested to support the program to allow teenage mums to complete Year 12 through the Young Mothers are Strong Mothers in Palmerston. Two weeks ago we were in Palmerston talking to those young mums. It has made a huge difference to their lives in providing a wonderful opportunity well into the future. The program includes parenting support and role modelling, child preventative health checks and immunisation.
On top of the $5.5m already provided by the government to construct the Larrapinta Child and Family Centre, as part of the Great Start Great Future program the Larapinta Child and Family Centre will receive $300 000 per annum towards operational costs.
Another feature of this strategy is an integrated approach, with the Departments of Education and Health working together to ensure that ear health is improved in remote locations.
This is something we need to focus on as a government. The FaFT program is wonderful. Targetting children earlier to ensure they are healthy and ready for education is something any responsible government should do. I commend this strategy to the House, Madam Speaker.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a fantastic question from the member for Arafura, someone who understands how important it is to start with children as early as possible to ensure they have a wonderful educational opportunity into the future.
The Country Liberal government recognises the importance of providing the best possible start for all children in the Northern Territory. We are committed to investing in and providing early years’ education and care for all children from birth to eight years of age.
This government knows that having the right start in life is essential for children later in life. We know that a child’s early years shape their ability to thrive at school, to stay healthy and socially connected, and to contribute to society socially and economically.
This $19m strategy is designed to increase the capacity of families and communities to care for their children and respond to their health development, safety and wellbeing. This plan will deliver a quality system which focuses on integrated services delivered by a qualified, supported and local workforce. Jobs, community and prosperity are what it is about.
An amount of $1m will see the Families as First Teachers program expand even further across urban sites, which will include the delivery from multiple sites in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs, including the Larapinta Families as First Teachers program.
This is in addition to the $11.1m also included in the Indigenous Education Strategy for existing Families as First Teachers sites.
By December 2017, FaFT will expand to 32 remote and very remote communities across the Territory. This is evidence of this government’s commitment to investing in building stronger communities.
An amount of $200 000 is invested to support the program to allow teenage mums to complete Year 12 through the Young Mothers are Strong Mothers in Palmerston. Two weeks ago we were in Palmerston talking to those young mums. It has made a huge difference to their lives in providing a wonderful opportunity well into the future. The program includes parenting support and role modelling, child preventative health checks and immunisation.
On top of the $5.5m already provided by the government to construct the Larrapinta Child and Family Centre, as part of the Great Start Great Future program the Larapinta Child and Family Centre will receive $300 000 per annum towards operational costs.
Another feature of this strategy is an integrated approach, with the Departments of Education and Health working together to ensure that ear health is improved in remote locations.
This is something we need to focus on as a government. The FaFT program is wonderful. Targetting children earlier to ensure they are healthy and ready for education is something any responsible government should do. I commend this strategy to the House, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016