Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Expansion Program

Aboriginal Child and Family Centres (ACFC) offer culturally-safe services to Aboriginal communities, including the provision of early childhood education and care, and support to access a range of child and maternal health services as well as family support, playgroups and adult education opportunities.

In March 2024, the NSW Government approved the delivery of six new ACFCs. The expansion program is funded under the Brighter Beginnings Initiative, which recognises the importance of culturally-centred health and education services to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the best start in life. 

The selection of the new ACFCs will be driven by data and consultation insights, ACFC Program Guidelines and Specifications (PDF, 590.5 KB), and the Principles of Partnership, which is at the core of the service delivery model.  

Priority Locations

Yamagigu Consulting (formerly PWC Indigenous Consulting) identified the need for new ACFCs in three priority areas through its consultation with key stakeholders, including government, subject matter experts, ACFC operators, peak bodies, Aboriginal Regional Alliances, and various Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). 

Request for Proposal Process

A Request For Proposal process has commenced to allow ACCOs with access to land in the priority locations to formally submit their proposal to operate an ACFC. This procurement process will allow us to further consider readiness and partnership models between the NSW Government (DCJ) and ACCOs.

The Request for Proposal process will include two rounds.

Round 1: Priority locations

The Yamagigu Consulting Consultation Report identified three priority locations for the Round 1 Request for Proposal, including:

• Central Coast LGA
• Far West NSW in one of the following LGAs:

o   Bourke

o   Broken Hill

o   Central Darling

o   Coonamble

o   Walgett

• Orange LGA

These locations have been identified as suitable for the pilot as ACCOs operating in these regions have demonstrated readiness, including:

• capacity, willingness, and capability to engage in the process
• ability to provide a site

Please note, a maximum of one ACFC can be approved for each of the three locations: Central Coast, Far West NSW and Orange.

How to apply

Round 1 is open from 27 August 2024 until 3pm, 27 September 2024.

ACCOs interested in establishing and operating an ACFC in the priority locations are encouraged to apply.

Request for Proposal forms can be accessed online at buy.nsw.gov.au

Further information on Round 2 will be published shortly.

For more information about the ACFC Expansion Program, please contact the ACFC Expansion and Enhancement team by email: ACFCIA@dcj.nsw.gov.au