In a climate in which Aboriginal parents have been more reluctant to send their kids to child care than non-Indigenous parents, a Nowra-based centre has been bucking the trend.
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The Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre won a regional NAIDOC award on Saturday for providing a significant place of belonging for local Aboriginal families.
There is no special rate, or discount provided, parents pay $79 per day before the child care rebate to send their kids to Cullunghutti.
All board members are Aboriginal, 70 per cent of staff are Aboriginal, catering for 95 per cent of kids in child care from Aboriginal backgrounds.
“We’re like a big family up here,” director Tracey Porter said.
“Most children that come here have always been with mum or their carer.
“It is about breaking down barriers, letting them know it is okay to send your kids to child care.”
The child care centre boasts higher than required staff to child ratios.
Before it was an established business, the founders ran a play group in town, and developed trust with Indigenous community members.
Through word of mouth, four years in, 60 kids attend each week, 40 per day.
The business offers health care services for young families.
“Because we have the family centre as well, we can provide services for our families, as well as families in the community,” she said.
“We have a pediatrician, speech therapist, occupational therapy, outreach services, support workers and mobility specialists.”
Newly-appointed CEO Tara Leslie said they’re aware of the issues facing Indigenous parents, and go above and beyond to combat them.
“We realised many of these kids and their siblings didn’t have a birth certificate,” she said.
“So we held a day where their parents could come in and get it sorted. We were able to help 55 kids.”
Aboriginal culture is a critical part of early learning at Cullunghutti.
“Everything we do fosters the families’ sense of identity and belonging,” Mrs Leslie said.
“We celebrate the richness of the Aboriginal culture with dance, language, art, local song lines, food and family.”
Staff were proud award recipients at a dinner held in Wollongong, encompassing Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas.