Connected Beginnings - Kids growing up strong and connected to culture in Ceduna

The Connected Beginnings project addresses specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to support children’s school readiness. Connected Beginnings started in 2017 in Ceduna and has laid the foundations for community-led systems change in Ceduna, Scotdesco and surrounding homelands. It also works with transient members of the Yalata and Oak Valley (Maralinga) communities who often pass through Ceduna and Koonibba.  

Ngura Yadurirn Children and Family Centre (NYCFC) is the Connected Beginnings backbone organisation. Connected Beginnings is founded on engaging with families and service providers to foster collaboration to support children and their families: 

“Our focus and our purpose of Connected Beginnings is engaging with our families. It’s making sure that our families are safe that that their voices are listened to, and that when we’re making decisions, or programs centred around those families, that they are at the heart and soul of what we do. I want our kids to be treated fairly and to grow up safe and strong, connected to culture” - said a Connected Beginnings Project Officer

NYCFC is not an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO), but in 2023 agreed to take part in a pilot with the Department of Education and SNAICC – National Voice of our Children, on a new ACCO Leadership Transition Framework (ALTF) for the Ceduna community.

The purpose of ALTF is to support Aboriginal communities’ self-determination to decide what they want for Connected Beginnings and which organisation – ACCO or not - sits in the backbone organisation role. This aligns with the commitments to Priority Reform Two. 

SNAICC led conversations in community, guided by the principle that put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing at the centre. The knowledge, cultural authority and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is central to decision-making. 

“Our Nannas group are the cultural authority holders, and we go to them for everything, including yarns about the ACCO leadership transition framework” - the Project Officer said.

Responses from Elders, mothers and young families and stakeholder organisations, including ACCOs, supported NYCFC retaining the backbone organisation role. This decision was driven by self-determination and cultural authority within the community. The leaders in the community felt NCFC is a safe space for their children, a place that supports kids from birth to 4-5 years old, helping to nurture their children and allow them to thrive.  

Find out more about the Connected Beginnings program.

Children listen to Elder, Poppa Con Miller play the didgeridoo at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day celebration event at Ngura Yadurirn Children and Family Centre. 

Photographer: SNAICC – National Voice for our Children 

Connected Beginnings team member, Montana Scott and a young child enjoy a moment together at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day celebration event at Ngura Yadurirn Children and Family Centre. 

Photographer: SNAICC – National Voice for our Children 

A young child paints a boomerang at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day celebration event at Ngura Yadurirn Children and Family Centre. 

Photographer: SNAICC – National Voice for our Children