“The Xstrata Family Support Program provides vital funds to support existing Centacare programs to give significant assistance to Queensland children with socialisation difficulties and to help us ensure more children find ways to realise their potential.”
Peter Selwood, Executive Director, Centacare.

Queensland’s children are one of the State’s greatest resources and it is important that they are given the chance of a good future. The Xstrata Community Partnership Program in Queensland is providing funds over three years to support two of Centacare’s existing children’s programs that aim to give assistance to Queensland children experiencing socialisation difficulties.

From 2006, the Xstrata Community Partnership Program will provide funding to the ‘Kids’ Business – Everyone’s Business’ and the ‘I Can’ Kids programs.
 

‘Kids’ Business – Everyone’s Business’

The children who participate in this program are young people, approaching adolescence, who risk losing their future potential to be part of a strong, healthy family and to raise their own children successfully. It is a unique program in south east Queensland, which provides an intensive therapeutic, school based intervention for these children while they are at primary school. It teaches children and families positive strategies and coping skills and is changing lives and changing classrooms as the very behaviours for which the children are about to be excluded from school are moderated.
 

The Xstrata–Centacare ‘I Can’ Kids Community Partnership Project

This program is designed for children between five and seven years of age who are experiencing anxiety, social withdrawal or isolation and vulnerability in their early years of schooling. In 2006, the funds will be used to train up to 22 ‘I Can’ Kids children’s practitioners. The program will then be rolled out throughout Queensland progressively over the next three years.

Support for these Centacare initiatives builds on the existing partnership Xstrata has with Centacare in north Queensland. The Xstrata Community Partnership Program in north Queensland supports several successful Centacare initiatives in Mount Isa, including indigenous employment and training, and a children’s support program.

Centacare wishes to thank the Xstrata Community Partnership Project for this funding which demonstrates the company’s commitment to the people of Queensland. This generous support assists Centacare’s mission to promote stronger families and healthy relationships and to reach out to those people who are most disadvantaged in the community and in particular to children in families.
 

Brochures

‘Kids’ Business – Everyone’s Business’

‘I Can’ Kids

Resources

Catholic Family and Community Services also offer a range of books and other resources for those working with children. Please see our resources page for more information.