$70.4m investment into early education services to flow into 15 Territory organisations

Fifteen Territory organisations are set to benefit from an investment from the federal government which will make a ‘huge difference’. Find out why.

Children's Ground founding chair William Tilmouth with Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy in Alice Springs.

More than 100 organisations across the country dedicated to bettering the lives of First Nations kids are set to receive a slice of a $70.4 million investment – with 15 of them based in the Territory.

The federal government is investing the money over the next two years into 188 early childhood activities throughout the country, which are administered by 173 different organisations.

The investment was announced by Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, who said the Albanese government is committed to improving outcomes for First Nations kids.

“Extending this funding commitment means First Nations families can continue to benefit from early childhood activities and services to help their children thrive,” she said.

In the Territory, the 15 organisations set to receive some of the money are:

SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle. Picture: Annabel Bowles

• Alawa Aboriginal Corporation
• Anglicare NT
• Bulman Community School Council
• Bushmob Aboriginal Corporation
• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation
• Child Inclusive Learning and Development Australia
• Children’s Ground
• Katherine Isolated Children’s Service
• Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation
• Milyakburra School Council
• Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation
• Save the Children Australia
• The Smith Family
• Yalu Aboriginal Corporation
• Youth & Family Education Resources

Of the $70.2m, $16.8m will go facilitated playgroups, $15.5m is for integrated early childhood approaches including wraparound activities, and $14.5m will go family, parenting, kinship or carer support activities.

Another $14.1m is for early learning activities, while $9.4m will be spent increasing family and community access and engagement.

The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) chief executive Catherine Liddle said the “funding helps to close the gap for our children and set them up to thrive”.

“This increased and extended funding will make a huge difference in delivering services and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services around the country,” she said.

Originally published as $70.4m investment into early education services to flow into 15 Territory organisations