1. Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains District Targeted Earlier Intervention Program 28.6.17

2. Identified TEIP Priorities

3. District Wide TEIP Common Priorities
Culturally and Linguistically diverse Families / Communities
Parents / Carers / Vulnerable families
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families / Communities
Families with Children 0-3
Young Parents (under 20)
Aboriginal Children and Young people
Individuals and Families experiencing DV and / or family violence
Alcohol and illicit drug use
Children young people aged 4-24 years including those who are disengaged from school / employment, school transition points / soft entry points and building community cohesion

4. Additional Blacktown Hills LGA TEIP Priorities
Children and Young people with mental health issues including youth suicide
Vulnerable parents of all abilities and cultures, including the need for more positive parenting skills
Families and communities experiencing poverty with a focus on Blacktown and Mt Druitt
New development areas
Disadvantaged communities
-Seven Hills
-Doonside
-Lalor Park
-All suburbs within Mt Druitt 2770 postcode

5. Identified strength, weaknesses and priorities based Feedback to date
General
Aboriginal models of practice need to be reflected in the Targeted Earlier Intervention programs
Only got a few Aboriginal specific services compared to the population
Need to Increase Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations (overtime, not a short term agenda)
Existing Aboriginal services are inadequately funded including infrastructure
Need more services exclusively for Aboriginal families and that are culturally appropriate
NGO’s need to increase Aboriginal workforce with identified roles
Training/mentoring for Aboriginal workers in NGO’s
Need more Capacity Building for existing Aboriginal Organisations
Want a whole of government approach with no silos
Need more brokerage funds to assist families in practical ways as the Commonwealth emergency relief funding is limited
Provide more cultural competence training for non-Aboriginal staff and NGO’s

6. Child Youth Family Services – Client /Case Work and Group Work )
We need /want :
Flexible holistic approach to service delivery focusing on the well being of the whole family
Family and community days and programs which include strengths based focus on parenting
Recognise and acknowledge culture and spirituality when working with Aboriginal families
Fund Aboriginal family support worker positions for NGO’s to provide a greater support structure / mentoring for families
Support for parents who have kids in the care system
Parenting support for parents and children in out-of-home-care since this is an intergenerational parenting issue
Fund Aboriginal Intensive family support workers to work below ROSH as Brighter Futures covers ROSH

7. Children / Youth and Families NSW
Fund Homework Centres for Aboriginal families
Need a consistent process to identify Aboriginal children in services
Increase Aboriginal specific playgroups, parenting groups and support services
Increase supported playgroups which include transition to school
Fund Education support for in class, homework and one-on-one support
Support the family though the education of their child from birth to the end of education
Youth
More Aboriginal adolescent and family counsellors /caseworkers
Youth programs need to include transition programs to high school
Skills development / courses and study support using an outreach community base model

8. Community Builders and ACFCs
Community Builders - Neighbourhood Centre & Building Capacity
Increase Aboriginal leadership opportunities to do Aboriginal community business
Want more Elder Groups
Family Centred services including parenting, playgroups, DV Programs, drug and alcohol programs
Funding to provide Aboriginal cultural programs for everyone from preschool age to year 12 students and families and extended community
Funding to provide Aboriginal hubs include; health checks, mental health, early childhood, education
Aboriginal Child and Family Centre’s
Increase staffing for Aboriginal Child and Family Centre’s to employ caseworkers, program officer, cultural events officer
Promote Aboriginal Child and Family Centre’s as a community hub celebrating culture and community, as well as addressing needs Early Intervention program needs

9. Input and Next Steps
Workshop for Aboriginal community members to further discuss :
what works well now in TEIP services,
Are there any other gaps,
What are the future opportunities
Any potential risks for the TEI service system in Blacktown/ Hills or surrounding areas in District ?