Connected Beginnings is an Australian Government grants program that seeks to give Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children the best start in life. Currently, the program supports 48 sites across Australia with 50 to be established by 2025.
On this page:
Current projects
Connected Beginnings projects have been established in every state and territory of Australia – currently a total of 48 sites.
The programs are developed and run by ‘backbone organisations’.
| State/Territory | Location | Set up |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Canberra | 2022 |
| NSW | Doonside | 2017 |
| NSW | Mount Druitt | 2018 |
| NSW | Taree | 2019 |
| NSW | Bourke | 2020 |
| NSW | Wagga Wagga | 2022 |
| NSW | Broken Hill | 2023 |
| NSW | Gosford | 2024 |
| NSW | Wyong | 2024 |
| NSW | Dubbo | 2024 |
| NSW | Kempsey | 2024 |
| NT | Alice Springs | 2016 |
| NT | Galiwin’ku | 2016 |
| NT | Tennant Creek | 2017 |
| NT | Angurugu | 2018 |
| NT | Katherine | 2022 |
| NT | Ngukurr | 2023 |
| Qld | Doomadgee (Mt Isa) | 2016 |
| Qld | Rasmussen | 2020 |
| Qld | Mareeba | 2021 |
| Qld | Mackay | 2022 |
| Qld | Eagleby | 2022 |
| Qld | Maryborough | 2023 |
| Qld | Hervey Bay | 2023 |
| Qld | Cairns | 2023 |
| Qld | Bundaberg | 2023 |
| Qld | Rockhampton | 2023 |
| Qld | Ipswich | 2024 |
| SA | Ceduna | 2017 |
| SA | Port Augusta | 2017 |
| SA | Salisbury/Playford | 2022 |
| SA | Port Adelaide | 2024 |
| Tas | Bridgewater/Gagebrook | 2018 |
| Tas | Burnie | 2021 |
| Tas | George Town | 2021 |
| Vic | Mildura | 2017 |
| Vic | Shepparton | 2021 |
| Vic | Whittlesea | 2022 |
| Vic | Ballarat | 2024 |
| Vic | Bairnsdale | 2024 |
| WA | Kalgoorlie | 2018 |
| WA | Derby | 2019 |
| WA | Roebourne | 2020 |
| WA | Armadale West | 2021 |
| WA | Bidyadanga | 2021 |
| WA | Central Great Southern (Katanning) | 2021 |
| WA | Geraldton | 2022 |
| WA | South Hedland | 2022 |
Expansion
In 2021, the Australian Government committed an extra $81.8 million to expand Connected Beginnings to 50 sites nationally by 2025.
The expansion includes:
- a dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workforce to employ local people
- broader, more extensive and longer consultation and community engagement
- increased support from the Community Partner role
- better data collection, project reporting, monitoring and evaluation
- a greater focus on bringing service provider organisations and community leaders together
- increased community consultation through the site scoping and site readiness process
- supporting participation of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
More information
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If you have questions, email connectedbeginnings@education.gov.au.