Bringing child and family services together to make access easy ↓

With picturesque views of the serene Manning River on the Mid Coast of NSW, it’s hard to fathom that Taree is characterised by significant social and economic disadvantage. However, nearly half (44%) of the region’s children aged 0-5 are considered vulnerable (as per the Australian Early Development Census).

With fragmented child and family health services that are difficult to navigate, and a critical shortage of service providers (especially Allied Health), outcomes for children have remained stagnant in the region – despite extra funding having been channelled into the area.

More than ten years ago, a group of dedicated community members came up with an idea to change things. The vision was to create an integrated hub that would give children and families access to a range of services all in one place – enabling vulnerable children and families to receive the care and support they need. And First Steps Count (FSC) was born.

“Rather than knocking on individual doors and having to relive traumatic stories, fill out endless forms and declare sensitive information multiple times, families could come in, tell their story once and access the services and programs in the one space,” says Clare Brennan, Transition Manager at First Steps Count.

Vital steps to making First Steps Count ↓

In 2019, the NSW Government committed $2.5m towards building the hub, while the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) also contributed $1.5m. MidCoast Council (formerly Greater Taree City Council) donated the land for the build – strategically located in an area of Taree that is characterised by significant disadvantage.

“We wanted to build this beautiful place for the community that was accessible by foot, so people could feel valued, respected and worthy of a safe and welcome space for their children,” Clare explains.

With significant funding secured, FSC needed expertise that could turn this community-driven initiative into a sustainable and impactful organisation. Through the Social Sector Transformation Fund and its connection to the VFFF, FSC was introduced to Sefa to help develop the hub’s theory of change, outcomes measurement framework and financial operating model.

“Sefa was great at helping us get clarity about what First Steps Count is and what we want to achieve. Over ten years, the project has evolved so much, so containing our remit has been one of the biggest challenges,” says Clare.

With no historic data to draw upon and unknowns in the future funding landscape, demonstrating a sustainable business model has been challenging. But working closely with Clare and the FSC Board of Management, Sefa made sure they work within conservative assumptions and explore different revenue generating options.

“Two years ago, we were still trying to get the funding right. We just needed people with different minds to come together and apply a different lens and a different perspective. Sefa has been instrumental in navigating that,” Clare says.

A better future for Taree families ↓

First Steps Count is now armed with everything it needs to create the change the Taree community has been waiting over a decade for.

It can demonstrate its purpose and how it will achieve its goals, and in the future, it will be able to show its impact on the lives of children and families. With a solid financial operating model in place, it can open its doors with confidence later this year.

“As an organisation, Sefa has given us an invaluable skillset, tools and resources so as we move forward, we can continue to reflect and evolve our frameworks and model,” Clare says.

“Personally, Sefa’s mentorship and Theory of Change made me feel really confident going into conversations with our partners and potential funding bodies."

Stage 1 of the hub is on track to open in November 2022. It will bring crucial services together across four service provider consulting rooms, a community kitchen area, a multipurpose playroom or conference space, meeting rooms and an office space which will be rented by Uniting as a co-located provider.

With a further $3.2m in Federal Government funding, FSC will begin planning the final stage of the build. This will include a 12-seat co-working space, laundry and purpose-built playroom with observation room and ample storage. It also means that the outdoor spaces and landscaping, a critical feature of the Centre, will be closer to completion.

“We’re still processing what this means. It’s a huge win for the community and it’s such a privilege to be involved in creating such an important hub for the community,” Clare says.