The first of its kind in Bankstown, the Black Santa Xmas Party took place on the 11th December 2010 at Paul Keating Park. Inviting Aboriginal children under 12 years and their families across Bankstown, to come together and celebrate christmas, this was a special day for the community.
The event was made possible by funds from the Bankstown City Council. Activities included a jumping castle, face painting, DJ Ashley Donovan, art workshops, a sausage sizzle put on by Rotary Club of Revesby, and of course the appearance of Black Santa, bearing gifts for all children present.
Baby steps to Literacy Project - 'Bongo's Big Day Out'
This project aimed to encourage and support early literacy practices and opportunities for new parents in the Bankstown Local Government Area. The project developed and distributed a children's book that depicts photographs of local places that are of interest to young children and their families such as parks, libraries and playgroups. The book focuses on asssisting parents and their children in making a link between literacy and their every day lives.
A community competition was conducted to name the book with over 80 entries submitted. Five year old Liam Boxall from Panania won the competition with his entry "Bongo's Big Day Out". The book is on display and available to parents free of charge at libraries across Bankstown.
This project was facilitated by Bankstown Community Resource Group in collaboration with representatives from the Families NSW facilitation project, NSW Department of Community Services, Bankstown City Library and Information Service, Bankstown Child and Family Health Centre and the NSW Department of Education and Training.
The Baby Steps to Literacy project was funded by Families NSW through the Early Literacy and Parenting Grants and Administered by Housing NSW.
If you would like more information about this project, please call the Community
Development Officer on 9796 2931.
Our Journey My Story
This project also worked with Aboriginal families with children 0-5 years old living in South West Sydney. The aim of the project was to enhance the cultural confidence of Aboriginal parents by increasing their understanding and knowledge of family ties, Aboriginal culture and traditional parenting practices.
The focus of the project was on highlighting the vital role that oral story telling plays in educating children about life. Through this project, participating families have developed personal 'literacy dilly bags' containing a child's personal story in the way of a book, puppets of tribal totems, a collection of Elder stories and family photographs.
The objectives of the project were to:
Enhance the connection of Aboriginal young children with their family's journey of where they came from to where they now live.
To encourage parent involvement in children's early learning experiences and
To provide a literacy link between early childhood services and Aboriginal families.
One of the main outcomes of the project was to produce a DVD documenting the production of the literacy Dilly Bags.
This project was funded by Families NSW Early Literacy and Parenting grants program.
f you would like to find out more about this program please contact the Community Development Officer on 9796 2931.
This project also worked with Aboriginal families with children 0-5 years old living in South West Sydney. The aim of the project was to enhance the cultural confidence of Aboriginal parents by increasing their understanding and knowledge of family ties, Aboriginal culture and traditional parenting practices.