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home > Best Start Home > Library > Forums, Launches and Presentations > Delkaia Aboriginal Best Start Demonstration
Project Launch October 2004
Delkaia Aboriginal Best Start Demonstration
Project Launch October 2004
Go to Aboriginal Best Start Delkaia-Horsham
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On Thursday 28 October 2004, Ms. Lisa
Neville, MP for Bellarine, launched the Delkaia Horsham and
District Aboriginal Best Start Project on behalf of the Hon.
Sherryl Garbutt MP, Minister for Community Services. Ms Neville
was welcomed to the launch by Ms Irene Harrison and Mr Peter
Kennedy who are Elders and members of the Wotjobaluk community.
One of the highlights of the event was
the official welcome provided by the local dance group Wallup
Mara. The dance performance illustrated the connectedness
the local Wotjobaluk people have to their land.
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The Delkaia (meaning "to be healthy") Aboriginal
Best Start project will be of significant benefit to the children
living in the Horsham and district communities. The project aims
to trial innovative ways to improve access to Aboriginal and mainstream
universal services for young Aboriginal children and their families,
thereby improving their health, development and wellbeing.
Ms Neville commented that "…Best Start is
all about providing the best possible beginning for all Victorian
children. It is about developing new networks and partnerships to
improve universal early years services so they are more responsive
to local needs, such as those here in the Horsham district….It
is about improving outcomes for Aboriginal children".
Mr Chris Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Wimmera Health
Care Group, speaking on behalf of the Delkaia Aboriginal Best Start
Project Partnership Group, emphasised the importance of the creation
of the Partnership, particularly in relation to the partnership
with Aboriginal communities in delivering services, that services
are culturally appropriate and that mainstream early childhood services
are designed to improve accessibility to Aboriginal children and
families.
Many Elders and local community members attended the
launch as did senior management staff from health, education and
family support organisations.
Ballarat Best Start Project
This was the launch of the second Best Start project
in the Grampians Region. In December 2002, Minister Garbutt launched
the Ballarat Best Start Project. This
project has a successful partnership, and demonstrates a collaborative
effort between community, local government, state government , non-government
organisations and parents.
An Action Plan for this project has been completed
and many of the projects are underway. A key feature of the Ballarat
project is the formation of linkages with other initiatives currently
underway in the City of Ballarat such as, Family Services Innovations,
Wendouree West Community Renewal, and Communities That Care, known
locally as Strengthening Generations.
Further information
For further information on Grampians Region Best Start
Projects, contact Sharelle Knight on ph: 5333 6938 or email Sharelle.Knight@dhs.vic.gov.au.
For further information regarding the statewide Best Start initiative
or to be added to electronic mailing list please contact Ms Merryle
French at wesley.powley-baker@dhs.vic.gov.au
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