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Grant For Innovative Circus Project to Protect Children at Risk |
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Written by Brendan O'Connor
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Tuesday, 23 June 2009 |
A Children’s Circus Project in Gorton that will target at-risk refugee children has received $46 178 from the Federal Government as part of a $3.1 million commitment to support 50 child protection projects across Australia.
Federal Member for Gorton Brendan O’Connor today welcomed the announcement, saying that the Westside Circus Inc project in Brimbank will “support at-risk children and promote community cohesion and understanding in the local community”.
“This is an innovative project that is designed to support newly arrived refugee children by developing their confidence in a new and very different environment from the one they are used to,” Mr O’Connor said.
The funding is part of a $3.1 million national program aimed at developing the strength and resilience of children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect, and provide additional support to those children who have already suffered abuse or neglect.
“The Government’s funding will enable the Children’s Circus Project to support refugee children who are at risk and also to support their families,” Mr O’Connor said.
Tiffany Ball from Westside Circus Inc, who will oversee the project in the local area, was thrilled to hear that the project had been funded.
“We are really excited because this funding will allow us to create an opportunity for these children and their families to experience the magic of circus, which will help them to develop their physical confidence and learn new ways of playing together,” she said.
The Children’s Circus Project will deliver a culturally sensitive program to at-risk refugee children from 3 to 5 years in Brimbank between July and September 2009.
The Project will engage the children in a range of circus activities, including juggling, plate balancing and acrobalancing, which involves the parent and child learning balances together. It will also contain a literacy component designed to increase both the children’s and the parents’ confidence in English and storytelling.
Mr O’Connor said the Australian Government is working with states and territories to develop new strategies to provide broad family support as well as more intensive, targeted services for those families which are in need of specific assistance.
“It is our priority to identify children and families that need special assistance and intervene early before a crisis develops,” he said.
A full list of the projects funded under the program is available at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/funding/Pages/ProtectingAustraliaChildrenFunding-Further31million.aspx.
A full list of the projects funded under the program is available at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/funding/Pages/ProtectingAustraliaChildrenFunding-Further31million.aspx.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 July 2009 )
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