Connected Beginnings is an Australian Government program that funds Collective Impact initiatives in communities where Aboriginal children would benefit the most from cross sector collaboration in improving the support and service system to address their needs and the needs of their families.

“The expected outcomes of the program are to assist Aboriginal children in communities where they would benefit the most to achieve the learning and developmental outcomes necessary for a positive transition to school. Over time, this will contribute to achieving equity in school readiness and educational outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.”

Closing the Gap measure. It supports all Closing the Gap priority reforms and focuses on targets 2, 3 and 4.

In 2022 the A Village for Every Child (Village) Collective Impact initiative was successful in tendering for the Connected Beginnings program in the ACT, this was due to the collaborative partnership that was established between UnitingCare Kippax (UCK) as auspicing agent for A Village for Every Child and Yerrabi which is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding.

Both UCK and Yerrabi co-host the Village Backbone team with Yerrabi hosting the Connected Beginnings Community Development Officers. These positions will support Yerrabi to identify the needs of their community through the work they will do bringing Aboriginal Community voices and other key stakeholders together.

The work that Community Development Officer’s do will help Yerrabi and Village to prioritise efforts, identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration and development that are mutually beneficial.