NT Labor to add four more sites to Families as First Teachers program if re-elected

An early learning and family support program which works with Indigenous families and children before school entry will be expanded to a further four sites if the Labor government is returned to power.

AN early learning and family support program which works with Indigenous families and children before school entry will be expanded to a further four sites if the Labor government is returned to power.

In a rare campaign policy announcement, NT Labor will on Sunday reveal it will expand the Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program to four more sites if they win four more years.

One will be in Arnhem, and three in Alice Springs.

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The FaFT program focuses on early learning literacy and numeracy, so that young children are prepared for day one of school.

The number of sites has doubled from 27 when NT Labor took power in 2016 to a total of 53 now.

Of those, 48 are in remote communities.

NT Labor has not said how much it would cost to set up the four extra sites, taking the total to 57.

However, a 2019 expansion to seven sites cost $1.5m, according to budget papers from that time.

The Department of Education’s annual report from last year shows a total of 1890 children and 1641 parents and carers participated in the program when there were 43 sites.

“FaFT is an important program not just for our littlest Territorians, but for parents and families who are a child’s first teachers,” Education Minister and Arnhem MLA Selena Uibo said.

“Additionally, with the majority of our FaFT sites located in remote communities, they provide Aboriginal Territorians with training and job opportunities while ensuring that the program is delivered with cultural sensitivity, and in a way that helps keep local language and culture strong.”

Labor said the new sites would be in Urapunga in Arnhem, and in Yuelamu, Laramba and Areyonga in Alice Springs.