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Wellington Community Networkers Project, Dubbo, NSW

Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.5 Autumn 2004 p.27

First glimpse - project responses to a series of questions

The project setting

This Indigenous family support program aims to improve parent and family access to parenting programs as the need arises and to give them a local link within their community via Community Networkers. The program will formalise and validate the role that some community members already undertake, and strengthen the informal networks within the community. It will also strengthen the capacity of communities to be self-determining.

Why is this project needed?

The need for the project came out of the planning process undertaken for Families First in 2000. Key agencies and Aboriginal communities throughout the Orana Far West area were consulted during the planning process. An Aboriginal focus group comprising key Aboriginal agency and community members helped shape this project.

What are you trying to do in the project?

Community networkers have consulted extensively with the Aboriginal community to gain a better understanding of the services people are familiar with, how people find out about services, the barriers to accessing services, and the service gaps for families with children. They have also talked with people in the community about what a community means to them and what could be done to make the community stronger and safer for families and children.

How are you going about it?

We have mapped local agencies providing services for families, young people and children and are working out the best way to disseminate this information within the community. As a result of the community consultations, we are planning to hold a number of family fun days which we hope will break down some of the barriers in the community and encourage people to work together on strengthening the community.