What is Swan Communities for Children?
Swan Communities for Children is a ‘place based’ initiative funded by the Department of Social Services. Swan CfC is delivered by Ngala as the Facilitating Partner delivering the Communities for Children initiative within the Swan Local Government Area.
What does a facilitating partner do?
- The Facilitating Partner is the non-government organisation with whom the Australian government enters into a grant agreement.
- The Facilitating Partner is responsible for overall facilitation and management of the Communities for Children initiative within its specified area and contractual obligations. Community and sector development including capacity building; stakeholder engagement; network opportunities; training and seed grant funding.
- Develops a community committee with specific localised knowledge both professional and lived, to oversee the activities of the CfC site such as selecting successful tenders for subcontracting and guiding decision making.
- Subcontract Community partners as service providers who deliver programs and activities targeting the place-based needs of Swan area communities.
- Researches and develops socio demographic analysis and mapping documents to determine niche place-based community strength and need including contracting a Local Evaluator to assist partners and the committee.
What activities do community partners provide?
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An eight-week program providing an opportunity for children aged 7-11 years to socialise, meet, take part in activities, learn new skills and have positive experiences. For more information contact 9207 8565 or Paul.Goodley@swan.wa.gov.au
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An eight-week program for young parents, expecting parents and grandparents to support building informal social support networks, maximise brain development and encourage healthy parent-child relationships. For more information contact 9250 6335 or rachaelj@indigojunction.org.au
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EPEC is a peer-to-peer program that trains parents to deliver the ‘Being a Parent’ (BAP) course in their communities. The BAP course aims to help parents develop positive communication and parenting skills, emotional literacy, and to encourage parents to be mindful of how their words and actions can impact on children’s wellbeing. For more information contact 9250 6335 or juliec@indigojunction.org.au
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Families and Schools Together (FAST) is an eight-week program where families within the school community are brought together to meet other families, school staff and community members. For more information contact 9250 6335 or rachaelj@indigojunction.org.au
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Playgroup for families with young children aged 0-5 years from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to meet other families in the local area and have fun playing and learning together. For more information contact 1800 171 882 or hotline@playgroupwa.com.au
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A program to support Aboriginal fathers living in the Swan Region. For more information contact 9274 7929 or karnany@indigojunction.org.au
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This program is for school aged children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds to connect with their Elders, families, culture and country. For more information contact 9274 5382 or admin@indigojunction.org.au
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A 10-week relationship-focused group program for mothers who are struggling to care for and connect with their baby (0-6 months). For more information contact 9250 2221 or info@mwhcp.org.au
Innovation fund
The Swan CfC Innovation Fund provides grants up to $75,000 to local organisations who work with families and can successfully identify a service area gap. This funding allows for investment in innovation while also helping to build capacity of groups and organisations in the Swan region. Our current Community Partners-Innovation are:
Team of Life project, Koya Aboriginal Corporation: A program supporting local Aboriginal children identify support networks and help seeking strategies as they approach the transition to High School. Places are limited, for more information contact 6424 9210 or email admin@koya.org.au
Gratitude Garden and Family Cooking Program: A program designed to support socially isolated, hard to reach families and respond to individual and community need. Families meet regularly to plan and prepare healthy and nutritious food, learn new skills and increase nutritional knowledge and family connections. For more information contact 9279 1588 or communitydevelopmentmanager@brockmanhouse.net
Community capacity building fund grants
The Community Capacity Building Fund (CCBF) provides one off small grants to assist in the personal, professional or educational development of community members or organisations which directly or indirectly benefit vulnerable children 0-12 years and their families, support collaborative community partnerships and are inclusive of all cultures and abilities.
Community members, community groups or not-for-profit organisations within the City of Swan may apply for grants of up to $2,000 for organisations and up to $750 for individuals.
What else does the Swan communities for children do?
Develop and facilitate a ‘whole of community’ approach to support and enhance early childhood development and wellbeing for children from birth to 12 years.
Contract Curtin University to provide a Local Evaluator.
Assist with the development of socio demographic analysis documents to guide the CfC FP Team and Community Committee.
Support Community Partners to develop best practice evaluation tools and evidence-based programs. Offer opportunities for cross-sector engagement and learning together by organising professional training, workshops and a Quarterly Network Breakfast.
Relevant Documents
DSS Communities for Children Operational Guidelines
Our Impact over the decade 2011 – 2021 – Summary
Our impact: a decade of the Swan Alliance 2011-2021
Resources for local services
Connecting to Aboriginal Culture and Community
Understanding Our Way: Perceptions from Culturally Diverse Communities
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