A new Child and Family centre has officially opened in Wadeye, providing a space for local children and families to connect and access services that improve their wellbeing.
Established by community leaders with the support of the Thamarrur Development Corporation, the Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre has a vision to create welcoming spaces for all children and families of Wadeye as well as dedicated areas for women’s and men’s groups.
The Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre has been running activities to connect children to Country, including on-Country camps since November 2021, with the Territory Labor Government providing $2.4 million over 5 years to establish and operate the Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre.
With an additional capital works grant of $548,280 the old church has been refurbished providing a long term site for the Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre with the old mission kitchen across the road repurposed for staff accommodation.
Including the Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre in Wadeye, there are now 6 Child and Family centres operated by Aboriginal organisations across the Territory with a further 6 Child and Family Centres managed by the Department of Education.
The Territory Labor Government has committed a further $1.2 million in 2022-23 to Aboriginal organisations in the Tiwi Islands and East Arnhem regions to ensure support services are available for children, young people and families living in the communities of Gapuwiyak and Wurrumiyanga with permanent Child and Family Centres to be established in these communities by early 2025.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Lauren Moss:
“The Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre has been established by community leaders with the support of the Thamarrur Development Corporation, ensuring local communities are empowered to create local solutions.
“Child and Family centres are designed to strengthen family and community capacity as well as assist families to access support services including maternal and child health, early childhood development and parental assistance.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Daly Dheran Young:
“Da Ngimalmin play an important role in supporting families, young people and children to navigate services that are culturally safe as well as connecting families to their traditional lands.
“The opening of the Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre this week provided a time to reflect our old people’s vision and recognise the work they’ve done to pave the foundations for our next generation.”
Quote attributable to Da Ngimalmin Child and Family Centre Manager Tobias Nganbe:
“The Da Ngimalmin Family Centre at Wadeye strives to empower families and facilitate the reconnection of children with their community and ancestral lands”.
