How was the shortlist compiled?
The shortlist of 8 sites followed an extensive quantitative and qualitative research to identify communities with both the need for and potential capacity to support the centres. Factors considered included numbers of children, early childhood education results, peri-natal data, and health and well being statistics. ABS census data on a range of social and economic indicators, like family formation, housing type and education attainment were also considered. This quantitative analysis was supplemented with a qualitative examination of potential infrastructure, existing services, new and emerging services that complement the CFCs and community readiness and interest.
Why weren’t communities asked to apply or express interest in having a centre?
In the first round, the objective is to deliver CFCs to communities that demonstrate readiness and willingness, and have suitable infrastructure.
The Premier has stated that the first eight centres will be built in the areas of highest need. The Government is committed to placing the first eight centres in communities that will derive the greatest benefit from the centres and have the capability and desire to make them work.
The starting assumption was that all Tasmanian communities would have some level of interest in and need for a CFC. In compiling the shortlist, the demographic and other characteristics specific to outcomes for children in all Tasmanian communities were considered as part of a qualitative and quantitative data analysis process. There was an objective, whole-of-state and evidence-based approach to identifying the first 8 communities to benefit from this initiative.
In future rounds, different methods might be considered to identify communities.
What about communities that aren’t on the initial shortlist – do they have any chance of getting a centre?
In future rounds we may look at different methods to identify communities. The range of models and services that will be part of CFCs are not yet fully described. When this is finalised, some communities may find that they have many of the requirements and need a different type of assistance to ensure their children’s well being. The project team will develop a longer-term communications strategy to keep communities informed. The Tasmanian Early Years Foundation has also indicated its intention to host forums on the CFC initiative in 2009.
What will happen now that the 8 initial communities have been announced?
Following the announcement, a program of consultation within the identified communities will take place to allow full discussion of the proposals, the models and services that might best suit, and options for the centre sites. The actual sites will be announced as they are determined. These consultations will commence as soon as practical after the announcement and are likely to be undertaken over several months in each community.
When will the next round of locations be announced?
Timeframes for the second round won’t be known until this first round is further advanced.
How will the Government decide where to place the remaining 22 centres?
The second and subsequent funding rounds will be subject to a tailored planning and analysis methodology that will take account of the progress of the first set of CFCs. Different methods to identify and engage communities may be used in the second round. Data from the State Infrastructure Planning System (SIPS) will also be utilised.
The Government is committed to placing CFCs in communities that will derive the greatest benefit from the centres and have the capability and desire to make them work over the long term.
What kind of services will be provided through the centres?
CFCs in Tasmania could provide a range of services including:
The final configuration of CFCs must be developed in close connection with the community. The range and nature of services provided will, therefore, vary from site to site according to the needs of the local communities that they serve.
CFCs work best when they do not adopt a one-size-fits-all model.
Best practice indicates that CFCs should have an integration manager on site. In developing CFCs, we are not just looking at the co-location of services but at the ways in which service delivery can be integrated to best meet the needs of children and families. Therefore services and management structures could differ across sites – depending on the community’s needs.
How will locations be decided?
A comprehensive infrastructure scoping process has already begun to make sure that CFCs are situated to maximise accessibility. CFCs may be built on greenfield sites or use existing infrastructure. Again, each CFC will be slightly different depending on community views and availability of infrastructure in a particular location. Targeted transport options will also be considered.
How much will each centre cost?
The Premier has announced up to $90 million for up to 30 centres. The actual cost of individual CFCs will vary depending on the level of build/rebuild required and the mix of services required in local communities. In some communities existing building and other infrastructure will meet the needs. In others it may be necessary to refurbish or build anew. There is not a specific configuration of spaces or buildings that are essential for a CFC.
What input will communities have into the establishment and ongoing operation of these centres?
Experience in other states and overseas is clearly showing that for these centres to work, there must be comprehensive community consultation around their establishment, and ongoing involvement in their operation. They can only work when the community wants them and has a strong commitment that grows from the fact that these centres meet the community’s needs. The communities in the first round will have many opportunities over the coming months to participate in discussion about the role and function of a CFC, the services that may best meet the specific community’s needs, and the way in which the community will be involved in the operation of the centre.
Why does Tasmania need these centres?
Although most Tasmanian children are healthy and happy, a significant number are exposed to serious economic disadvantage, suffer poor health and struggle to succeed at school. For example:
For children who experience poor health and education outcomes, life can be a struggle. Many do not lead the happy and optimistic lives to which all children in Tasmania are entitled. Vulnerability of this kind is experienced by the individual child but has its roots in the family and community structures in which they live. This early disadvantage feeds into a lack of school readiness and competency. Evidence shows that low levels of educational attainment can lead to poor school retention rates, poor employment outcomes, reduced productivity and increased anti-social behaviour.
How do we know that these centres will work?
International research conducted on Child Family Centres (CFCs) over a number of years suggests that integrated centres are the best way to address unsatisfactory early years outcomes. Integrated CFCs have existed for a number of years in various countries, particularly the United Kingdom and United States. Findings from the Sure Start program in the UK indicate that:
Why doesn’t the Government direct the funding to existing services that are underfunded?
The Tasmanian Government already provides a wide range of education and health services to children and families. Even so, change for the better is not occurring rapidly enough. A more coordinated approach utilising joined-up services is required to address entrenched disadvantage and social exclusion.
Child and family centres provide services directly where they are needed – helping to fight the causes of poverty at the coalface. CFCs do this by connecting a range of government services in the one place, so that families can access things like parenting programs, child and family health services, and adult education and training, right there in their own community. The Government wants to meet the need where it exists, and empower families to build better futures where they can easily access services. These centres can become focal points for communities, connecting people more closely to each other.
Evidence shows that fragmentation of services can compound social disadvantage and poor outcomes. If services could be improved through greater integration, social disadvantage could be tackled more effectively. In addressing early years outcomes, we set the scene for improved social dividends further down the line.
Why is the Government spending money to put all these services in one place?
The most powerful rationale for integrated service delivery is that it increases the likelihood that citizens will make use of available services. Utilisation rates for infant health checks in Tasmania, for example, drop off markedly after children pass the six month stage. By delivering these checks through an integrated CFC, parents will find it easier to continue to have the progress of their children monitored.
Encouraging social inclusion in the early years through integrated service delivery can reduce the social pressures that emerge later on. Prevention of the kind offered by CFCs, in other words, may well be more cost-effective than attempting to cure these manifold problems once they are already entrenched.
International research conducted on CFCs over a number of years suggests that integrated centres are the best way to address unsatisfactory early years outcomes. Parents who made use of the centres were more supportive of their children’s development and demonstrated greater confidence and self-sufficiency in their parenting. By integrating services in a CFC, the benefits to children and families can be maximised.
The development of a social inclusion strategy for Tasmania seeks to address barriers that people face to participating in the economic, social and civic life of Tasmania. These barriers make it hard for people to access the support they need to get through difficult times, including help from family and friends, community organisations and governments. Social inclusion aims to provide a system that helps people access support services, education and job opportunities, as well as social and community networks.
The Tasmanian Government’s Social Inclusion Strategy and Social Inclusion Commissioner for Tasmania will examine strategies to address these barriers to include the most deeply excluded Tasmanians and encourage their engagement with CFCs.
What will happen to existing services or those that are planned?
The centres will complement these other initiatives, not duplicate or replace existing services. The Social Inclusion Unit in the Department of Premier and Cabinet is currently working with State Government agencies to co-ordinate the development, service planning and community consultation regarding initiatives such as the LINCS, Integrated Care Centres , Gateway Services and the CFCs.
What is happening to improve Government services while the centres are being developed?
Some realignment of services to Tasmanian children and families is already underway. DHHS will be implementing a new Gateway Services model for the provision of family support services in 2009. The model will allow for the coordination of, and response to, referrals from families, teachers and principals, police officers, non-government organisations and members of the local community at the local level.
Similarly, the Department of Education has developed a number of initiatives to support families and bring services together within a school community, including initiatives such as “Launching into Learning” and the roll out of cooperative service models on school sites.
Risdon cove has been named as one of the sites for a dedicated centre for Aboriginal children.
Consultation on the Government’s Social Inclusion Strategy hasn’t yet finished – how can decisions be made before that consultation is completed?
During late 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009, the Social Inclusion Unit will consult with key stakeholders on the development of the strategy.
Community forums were held around the State during November in Neighbourhood Houses. The Stronger Communities Taskforce, an advisory group to the unit, also held a community forum at New Norfolk.
During December 2008 and January-February 2009, consultation will also occur with all levels of Government and community sector organisations. The unit will also undertake targeted consultations with communities of interest, for example, older Tasmanians, the Aboriginal community, people living with disability, and migrant and refugee communities.
All submissions are due by the end of January 2009 for reporting to the Premier and the Social Inclusion Commissioner for Tasmania in determining the design of a social inclusion strategy for Tasmania. It is intended that the unit will then revisit communities to advise the likely direction of the strategy.
The Social Inclusion Unit will be part of the government’s consultation in relation to the location of the CFCs which will ensure that decision making in relation to the centres is consistent with the design and development of the social inclusion strategy.
We know the importance of the early years to a person’s life chances, social and economic outcomes and inclusion in a community. We also know that CFCs can maximise benefits for children. The Government can act immediately to get centres underway as long as we co-ordinate communication and service design and delivery between the agencies of government that are undertaking the number of important social policy and social infrastructure projects underway at the moment in Tasmania.
Are the Bridgewater and Geeveston CFCs different from the other 8 CFCs?
The Bridgewater and Geeveston CFCs are funded by the Commonwealth and one of their key priorities is to help close the gap between the health and education outcomes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. They will provide support for all families in the areas. They will be established following the same processes as the other CFCs. There will be consultation with the communities so that all the possibilities of site, services to be provided, what the facilities might look like, etc can be fully discussed. These consultations will be starting in July 2009.
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