Aboriginal transition to school program

Local Aboriginal families with children starting school next year are being encouraged to take advantage of a transition to school program being offered on the Peninsula.

The Benevolent Society's Young Black and Ready for School program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families by providing information about what to expect at school as well as ensuring children are healthy and ready for school.

The Benevolent Society's manager of community programs Ms Deb Tipper said two Aboriginal community worker Cassa Hinton had been employed to deliver the program into the local community.

"As part of the project, workers organise community health screening days where all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and their children about to start kindy come together for a health screening day and barbecue.

"The children are assessed for their general health including hearing, dental, vision, speech and immunisation.

"This ensures that all the children are ready and healthy to start their educational journey.

"They also receive a Ready for School pack which includes back pack, drink bottle, lunch box and school hat.

"Parents also get an information pack containing helpful hints on their little ones starting school."

Ms Tipper said the community health days were a wonderful way of bringing together the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

"This makes the transition into kindy a little less stressful and brings awareness about education and how important it is for families to be involved with the school community," Ms Tipper said.

"The community day is supported by a wider range of services and members of the aboriginal community.

"The project is funded through the NSW Department of Community Services.

"As one parent commented last year, 'I loved meeting other Koori families on the day - I didn't think there were any on the Peninsula'."

Families interested in accessing the program should ring The Benevolent Society on 4353 4688.

All children who participate in the program need to be registered.

Press release, 1 Oct 2009 Deb Tipper, The Benevolent Society