Aboriginal children and families are set to benefit from a new hub for early education and family support, with the Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington turning the first sod for Bourke’s new Aboriginal Child and Family Centre (ACFC).
The ACFC will be delivered in partnership with Maranguka, a local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. It will sit alongside a new preschool, supported by a Department of Education capital grant and will be delivered by Bourke and District Children’s Services.
With a combined investment of nearly $10 million, the ACFC and preschool will expand access to high-quality early childhood education and support for families in and around Bourke.
ACFCs are community hubs which provide integrated early education, health and community services, from pregnancy through to early childhood, including parenting programs, playgroups, and allied health services.
This is one of six new ACFCs being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $100 million Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Expansion and Enhancement Program.
These new ACFCs are in addition to the nine existing centres located around NSW being upgraded with expanded facilities and almost double the operational funding.
Through genuine partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, ACFCs help deliver on the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap on the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
Construction of the Bourke ACFC and preschool will progress over the coming months. More information on ACFCs is available on the Department of Communities and Justice website.
Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:
“Aboriginal Child and Family Centres are a game-changer for local communities, providing everything young families need to give their little ones the best start in life, all in one place.
“The Minns Labor Government is investing in the future of Bourke, backing the community with the funding needed to provide lifechanging supports for local families and our littlest learners.
“I’m pleased we are partnering with trusted local organisations, Maranguka and Bourke and District Children’s Services to strengthen families and the community through connection, culture and early education.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
“Construction underway on a new Aboriginal Child and Family Centre is fantastic news for Bourke.
“These centres are trusted within Aboriginal communities and play a vital role helping to Close the Gap by providing culturally appropriate services tailored to the needs of local mob.
“As a former school principal I am especially pleased this facility will have an adjoining pre-school to ensure early education is interwoven with culture, health and family support all under one roof.”
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:
“It’s great to see construction getting underway on the new Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, which alongside the expansion of preschool places, will deliver wrap-around support and opportunities to Aboriginal children and their families in Bourke.
“I’m particularly pleased that the state government has listened to community leaders and collaborated on these projects, which always produces better outcomes.”
MarangukaExecutive Director and Founder Alister Ferguson said:
“Maranguka welcomes the opportunity to deliver the Aboriginal Child and Family Centre (ACFC) through this highly competitive process, further strengthening Bourke’s early childhood system. Together with the 60 additional preschool placements for Bourke District Children’s Services and the new Transition Hub at Bourke Public School, these initiatives represent a significant investment in the future of our community.
“Maranguka has been proud to work alongside Bourke District Children’s Services, Bourke Public School, the NSW Department of Education and the Deputy Premier Prue Car, to help bring these opportunities together. This partnership will galvanise and strengthen our collective efforts to set children, young people and families up for success in the Bourke community.”
Bourke and District Children’s Services General Manager Prue Ritchie said:
“BDCS is delighted to work alongside Maranguka in the delivery of wrap-around services for children and families. Our community has been collaborating across services through the Maranguka Early Childhood and Parenting Working Group for more than 10 years, and we welcome this investment in an area that the community has long advocated for.
This Hub will create a culturally safe space where families and community members can come together, a place of active reconciliation, genuine employment opportunities, and strengthened connections. It will help make our community stronger while addressing the underlying causes of disadvantage.”
Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said:
“This centre is about working alongside Aboriginal communities in a way that respects local leadership and delivers long‑term outcomes for children and families.
“By partnering with Maranguka, we’re ensuring the Bourke ACFC is designed, delivered and operated in a way that is accountable, sustainable and grounded in what the community knows works for its families.”
