Centre at risk vital to closing the gap

The manager of a Kimberley children and family centre at risk of closure says it is imperative that the facility continue operating to help close the gap and improve outcomes for indigenous families.

Earlier this month, the Australian Government released the seventh Closing the Gap report, which revealed although there had been some improvement in education and health outcomes for indigenous Australians, most targets were not on track to be met.

This included ensuring access for all indigenous four-year-olds in remote communities to early childhood education.

The Baya Gawiy Buga yani Jandu yani u centre provides integrated early childhood education, care and health services to families in and around Fitzroy Crossing.

Centre manager Sarah Cleaves said Baya Gawiy was one of 38 facilities established under Closing the Gap funding with the specific intention of addressing this target, but it was facing closure when funding runs out on June 30.

"On the one hand the Government is wringing its hands over the failure to meet this target (but) … it has failed to ensure funding for centres such as ours, which are instrumental in ensuring its own policy objectives are achieved," she said.

The centre has applied for further funding and is expected to learn the outcome next month.