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Child Health Forum
A strategy to help Aboriginal children in Far Western New South Wales was recently launched in Broken Hill with more than 50 representatives from all relevant groups attending.
The Aboriginal Child Development and Well Being Strategic Framework is the result of work undertaken by the Far West Aboriginal Child Development and Well-Being Group formed last year which has representation from non-government and government organisations across child education, welfare and health.
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation has been the principal driver of the Strategy and its goal is to optimise the development of Aboriginal children and their families from pregnancy to school entry in Broken Hill, Central Darling, Wentworth and Balranald Shires, and the unincorporated Far West.
It maps out what all organisations need to do to improve child development and well being through effective prevention, promotion of health and well-being, and early intervention. As well as commitment from local service providers the rate of progress will be dependent on more equitable Commonwealth and State funding for primary level health services and funding for services in the remote communities of far western NSW.
The launch of the Strategy means work can now begin at the local level in each community to improve collaboration on the Strategy's 'best buys' which are early literacy, parenting programs, early childhood education and community development.