2009 “We grow them up!” Learning Festival

Anglicare NT’s Communities For Children Program is hosting the “We Grow Them Up!” Learning Festival on the 28th & 29th of May next year in Darwin.

The Committee for Children, made up of community representatives from communities across East Arnhemland, designed the Festival to learn how Indigenous and Non Indigenous people can work together in partnership to develop the best services for children in remote communities. Festival participants wished to share what they know works in helping young children grow up to be strong and healthy and to learn new ways to support young parents and families as they grow up their babies and little children.

The Festival Program included learning about:

• Strong teeth for little kids (Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin)
• Health Story about Little Ones (Dept H&CS)
• Safe Children’s Community Program (Maningrida Night Patrol Women)
• Let’s Start – The importance of play and ways of working together with your children (CDU)
• Community Vision for Children (NAPCAN)
• Talking, Playing and Making Rules at Home (DEET)
• Alcohol in Pregnancy (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research)
• Building Parenting Skills through the use of art, craft, games, storytelling and songs (InspirED)
• Healthy ears for little kids (Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin)
• Early intervention child abuse prevention Project (The Future Parents Program)
• Healthy Bush Tucker for our kids (RDH and Top End Nutrition and Physical Activity Program)
• Men’s Business – Men talking together about family life (Charlie King)
• Families, Community and Schools Together (Families and Schools Together, Education Transformation)
• What little kids are thinking about their own playing (Regional Remote Aboriginal Children and Services Support Unit (RRACSSU)
• Music – The importance of music in bonding and early development (Carers NT)
• Getting Little ones ready to start reading (NT Library)

The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, attended the Festival, representing the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The Hon. Bill Shorten MP addressed Festival participants with a wonderful talk about supporting families and building stronger communities.
The Festival was officially opened by Ms Coralie Nichols, CEO, Anglicare NT.

The closing ceremony of the Festival was a wonderful, fun event with performances by the “One Mob Different Country” Dancers and Shelley Morris accompanied by Rachael Sharman.

The Festival was well attended with positive feedback from participants and a strong desire to hold a Festival in 2009.

Anglicare NT extends sincere thanks to all our wonderful Festival sponsors.