Connected Beginnings is an Australian Government grants program that seeks to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children the best start in life. Currently, the program supports 40 sites across Australia with 50 to be established by 2025.
On this page:
Current projects
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Connected Beginnings projects have been established in every state and territory of Australia – currently a total of 40 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 |
| 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 |
| SA | Ceduna | 2017 |
| SA | Port Augusta | 2017 |
| SA | Salisbury/Playford | 2022 |
| TAS | Bridgewater/Gagebrook | 2018 |
| TAS | Burnie | 2021 |
| TAS | George Town | 2021 |
| VIC | Mildura | 2017 |
| VIC | Shepparton | 2021 |
| VIC | Whittlesea | 2022 |
| 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 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
- Keep checking this website for updates about new sites.
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