There are nine Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) funded by the Department to deliver evidence-based parenting support through the BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators (KFFE) initiative.
KFFE supports Koorie families to provide a strong foundation for their children’s early learning and development through high-quality, culturally safe, evidence-based parenting support (pre-birth to school age, including transition to school). ACCOs in identified areas deliver KFFE by employing and supporting Koorie educators to work with parents/carers to build the capacity of Koorie families to support their children’s early learning and development.
KFFE incorporates the Koorie In Home Support/Home Based Learning initiative, whose funding was integrated with KFFE under a common set of guidelines and the language name BALERT GERRBIK in 2019. BALERT GERRBIK means ‘my strong family/kin’ and is from the Taungurong language.
KFFE funding is delivered across Victoria, in the following locations:
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Latrobe
- Wodonga
- Northern Metro
- Swan Hill
- Mildura
- East Gippsland
- Geelong
- Shepparton
Guidelines for BALERT GERRBIK: Koorie Families as First Educators is available from the Koorie Outcomes Division of DET. To request a copy, please email: [email protected]