Welcome to Connect...
Connect Child and Family Services Inc is a non-government organisation operating across the Nepean region of Sydney (Blue Mountains, Penrith and Hawkesbury local government areas). The organisation’s purpose is to promote positive outcomes for young children and families by providing a comprehensive and integrated range of services that embrace strengths-based, family-centred practice and which focus on prevention, early identification and early intervention.
Connect Child and Family Services Inc aims to:
- Function as a community based organisation equitably providing optimal early childhood services to children and families;
- Embed its early childhood intervention services within a range of family-centred services that promote the growth and development of all children;
- Provide access to a range of high quality equipment and resources that promote children's development and support the needs of parents or carers; and
- Form collaborative partnerships with other community services, organisations and agencies to enhance and strengthen the development of an equitable, local integrated service delivery system for children and families.
Our Latest Newsletter
To view our latest newsletter, click here.
Mission & Objectives
Our Mission
Connect Child and Family Services aims to promote positive outcomes for children and families by providing a comprehensive and integrated range of services that embrace strengths-based, family-centred practices.
Our Object
Function as a community based organisation equitably providing optimal early childhood services to disadvantaged, distressed, disabled, and helpless children and families in the Blue Mountains and surrounding areas.
We will achieve our object by:
- Embedding its early childhood intervention services within a range of family-centred services that relieve children from their current issues and barriers and also promote the growth and development of children.
- Providing access to a range of high quality equipment and resources that relieve children from their current issues and barriers and promote children's development and support the needs of parents or carers.
- Form collaborative partnerships with other community services, organisations and agencies to enhance and strengthen the development of an equitable, local integrated service delivery system for children and families.
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Constitution
To download Connect's Constitution, click here.
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Status
Connect Child and Family Services Inc is an Incorporated Association and a Registered Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient Status. Details of our association is available from the Australian Business Register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): 37 246 630 212
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Board
Chairperson - Associate Professor Christine Woodrow
PhD University of Western Sydney
Vice Chairperson - Dr Julie Campbell EdD
NSW Institute of Psychiatry
Secretary - Annie Lualua JP
Community Representative
Treasurer - Elizabeth Smith
Parent Representative
Board Members
Janette Cave DipEd Med – Retired Preschool Director
Dawn Williamson MaHlth - Sydney West Area Health Service
Joe Banffy Dip.T – Principal, Faulconbridge Public School
The Associations is governed by a Board comprising a range of professionals interested in the early development of children and the wellbeing of their families. We encourage involvement on the Board and currently have vacancies available. If you are interested in joining our Board or would like further information please email: connect@connect.asn.au
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Staff
Executive Director - Dianne Jackson
PhD Candidate, BSSc (Hons), B Teach (Early Childhood)
Manager Early Childhood Intervention Programs - Ruby Wright
Grad Cert Hlth Sc (Devel Disability), B Ed (Special Ed), Dip T (Early Childhood)
Manager of Finance - Dianne Hogden JP
Connect aims to promote positive outcomes for children and families by providing a comprehensive and integrated range of services that embrace strengths-based, family-centred practice. Staff members have many years of experience working with children and families. They hold tertiary qualifications, at both graduate and post graduate levels, in a range of disciplines that include Early Childhood Education, Social Science, Psychology and Social Work.
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Annual Report
To download our revised Annual Report, click here.
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Organisational Chart
To download the Organisational Chart, click here.
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Funding Chart
To download the Funding Chart, click here.
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Acknowledgements
Connect Child and Family Services would like to acknowledge the contribution made to our work with families and children by the following organisations:
- Aboriginal and Cultural Resource Centre
- Access Children Support
- Blackheath Public School
- Blue Mountains City Council
- Blue Mountains Consortium
- Blue Mountains Family Support Service
- Catholic Education Office
- Charles Sturt University – Education & Nursing
- Child and Adolescent Development Unit
- Department of Aging, Disability and Home Care
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Education and Training
- Department of Community Services
- Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Early Childhood Intervention Coordination Program (ECICP)
- Gunedoo Child Protection Service
- Hazelbrook Public School
- Katoomba Children’s Cottage
- Katoomba North Public School
- Katoomba Public School
- KU Children’s Services
- KU Hazelbrook Preschool
- KU Katoomba Preschool
- Lapstone Preschool
- Lifestart
- Lower Mountains Family Support Service
- Mikayla Children’s Services
- Mountains Community Resource Network (MCRN)
- Mountains Outreach Community Service
- Penrith City Council
- South Penrith Youth & Neighbourhood Services
- Sidney Myer Fund
- Sydney West Area Health Service
- TAFE NSW
- University of Western Sydney – School of Education & School of Medicine
- Wesley Mission
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