Julatten and Mt Molloy Children's Services Interest Group
This group has worked closely with the community of Julatten/Mt Molloy to develop an OSHC and vacation care program at the Julatten State School and to coordinate the provision of community services in this area.
The Julatten/Mt Molloy region had a population of approximately 1400 people at the 1996 census. The population has increased by around 32% since this time. The nearest formal child care is located in Mossman or Mareeba (approximately 30 minutes drive either way). A playgroup has been established at the local park hall with an average of 25 children under 5 attending on a weekly basis.
Non-recurrent funding of $171,000 is provided for the construction of a child care and family support hub and for establishment costs. Recurrent funding of $26,322 is provided to employ a part-time hub coordinator. Education Queensland has stated that they would provide land opposite the school.
Through the second round of funding, additional non-recurrent funding of $65,000 is provided to construct the hub.
This project would provide an integrated kindergarten, limited hours service, outside school hours care/vacation care and a permanent venue for playgroup. Queensland Health has also stated that they would resume a child health service at the centre, which was stopped because of lack of access to a suitable venue in the community.
The service proposes a flexible and integrated program for children and families in the area. In addition to the child care services outlined above, the organisation is proposing that room be made available for child health services for new mothers, parenting and relationship education evenings, weekend community workshops and visits from early intervention specialists, speech therapists, nursing mothers and the Noah's Ark toy library. An information and referral service would also be established from this room.
This proposal has been discussed over a number of years and has strong community support and support from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, Education Queensland, Creche and Kindergarten Association, Community Health and other groups such as Nursing Mothers Association, Playgroup Association and so on.
Julatten is an area of socio-economic disadvantage, is geographically remote, currently has a significant population growth (particularly of young families), has very limited social infrastructure. Through the Child Care and Family Support Hub Strategy the community has demonstrated a strong capacity to support a child care and family support hub.
These Hub Coordinator position descriptions have been developed by the organisations, and are made available here for information only. All applications have closed, and the positions are filled.
Last updated: 27 August 2008.