Koori Kids Wellbeing Program

1. Project Profile

Project Name(s)	Koori Kids Wellbeing Program
Funded Organisation	South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
Geographical Area	Local
State/Territory	New South Wales
Approach(es)	Selected and Indicated
Individual/Group	Individual and Group
LIFE Action Areas	Building individual resilience and the capacity for self-help Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention
Target Groups	Children Indigenous populations Rural and remote communities

2. Project Description

This project is a promotion, prevention and early intervention approach to mental health support and suicide prevention for Aboriginal children aged 3-12 years on the South Coast of NSW.

3. Activities

The Project provides 4 levels of intervention:

1. Cultural awareness programs and whole-of-school mental health promotion program delivery (based on the Mind Matters and Aussie Optimism programs) to improve the emotional and social wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending the 6 targeted primary schools, including school holiday activities for a smaller number of children (approximately 20 – 25) and their families
2. Intensive counselling and psychological support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with existing emotional wellbeing and behavioural problems, school truancy or underachievement
3. A parent education program (based on the Indigenous Positive Parenting Program, Triple P) to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents from the region to improve their parenting skills and have a positive impact on the emotional and behavioural wellbeing of their child/children and
4. Education and training about mental health and the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children for Project staff, staff from other health and welfare services and the wider community in the region, in an effort to promote resilience and connectedness to community and culture Top of page

4. Funding

• Round 1
  • NSPP funding
    • 2006/07 - $213,167
    • 2007/08 - $200,880
    • 2008/09 - $205,953
  • % project funding - data not supplied
• Round 2
  • NSPP funding
    • 2009/10 - $222,207
    • 2010/11 - $224,208
  • % project funding - 100%
• Round 3
  • NSPP funding
    • 2011/12 - $231,000
    • 2012/13 - $235,000
  • % project funding - 100%

5. Staffing

• Round 1 (2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - data not supplied
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - data not supplied
• Round 2 (2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2
• Round 3 (2011/12, 2012/13)
  • Number staff positions funded (FTE) - 2
  • Number staff positions filled (FTE) - 2