The Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, has launched a new Connected Beginnings site in Ballarat, Victoria.
Connected Beginnings is an Australian Government grants program that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children get the best start to life.
It’s for children from birth to school age and pregnant women. Through it, children can get steady, wrap-around support. This helps them meet the learning and development milestones needed for a smooth start to school.
In 2021, the Australian Government committed $81.8 million to expand the program to 50 sites by June 2025. There are now 41 sites across Australia, supporting more than 16,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Connected Beginnings is community owned and led. This means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a say in how activities funded by the grant are delivered to their people, in their own places and on their Country.
The program supports all Closing the Gap priority reforms and focuses on targets 2, 3 and 4. It’s jointly funded by us and the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Learn more about Connected Beginnings.