Save the Children

Save the Children is a independent, non-profit, non-sectarian organisation, guided by principles contained in the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.  Larrakia Nation has had a formal partnership with Save the Children since 2004.

 
Save the children works for:
  • A world that respects and values each child
  • A world which listens to children and learns
  • A world where all children have hope and opportunity
 
Save the Children operates a range of projects throughout Australia, the primary focus being the protection of children and the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
 
Larrakia Nation and Save the Children seek to:
  • improve children and families access to available services and resources,
  • undertake joint planning, development, and coordination of services and resources to meet the needs of children and families within the Indigenous communities, and
  • develop and share knowledge, skills and resources for the benefit of children and families.
Save the Children, with support from Fahcsia, provide the following services:
 
A Mobile Playscheme program for families living in the inner urban communities of Darwin. The service provides a free supported playgroup to children aged 0 – 5 years and their parents and carers. Each week we visit 6 communities, including Knuckey’s Lagoon, Minmarrama, Bagot and Belyuen Communities and provide a range of education and fun activities for children to participate in.
 
Our Family Support Workers provide support, assistance and referrals to families assisting them to address many issues that impact on their ability to care for their children including domestic and family violence, parenting support, health and relationship issues.
 
School Attendance Project
Children from inner urban communities were assisted to get to school through the school attendance project.  The project saw improved attendance by all children involved and created employment opportunities for local women as Cultural Guidance Officers.  The participating schools engaged more often and in more positive ways with the inner urban Indigenous communities through this project, with key school celebrations held at each community.
 
In Wadeye we have been providing our playgroups in four communities/locations.  The playgroup is the only early learning activity available on the communities to children on a weekly basis.  Three local women also participate in a leadership development project where we have established a management committee, designed and organised along ceremonial lines by the women, to provide local management of the playgroups.
 
All families who attend the Playscheme are assisted to make use of the resources that are available at Wadeye.  Staff have formed good relationships with other service providers to ensure that collaborative models of service delivery are possible for families to access.  Materials or services are often sought from Darwin to complement what is available in the community to ensure Playscheme is adequately resourced.    
 
Save the Children and Larrakia Nation are committed to building strong, healthy families with a professional staff group who provide strong culturally effective services.  We collaborate on program design, training and development within the Darwin community.