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Windale - NSW
In 1999 Windale was in the worst 1 per cent of NSW postcodes for instances of child abuse and neglect. In 2004 it was in the best 25 per cent. Windale, in the Lake Macquarie region, was originally established as a Department of Housing suburb. In 1999, the Jesuit Social Services rated Windale as the most socially disadvantaged community in NSW. A comprehensive three-year community renewal process was developed to improve the situation. A ‘School as Community’ Centre has now been established at Windale Primary School and has become a blueprint for similar initiatives throughout NSW. The Alcazar Centre, as it is known, was recently given an Award for Excellence by the Director General of the Department of Education and Training. Led by a broadly represented committee, programs initiated included:
Windale was awarded a NAPCAN microgrant to deliver a play addressing child protection issues to all infant and primary aged children in the Windale area, culminating in three plays held at both Windale and Gateshead public schools. Discussions about the issues raised followed the performances. What NAPCAN says:
The results of these initiatives speak for themselves. For child abuse, Windale moved from the worst 1 per cent of NSW postcodes in 1999, to the best 25 per cent in 2005. In the same way the causes of abuse and neglect are complex and many, the solutions can be different to what we might expect. The butterfly effect of these initiatives made a profound difference to the children of Windale. Further Reading: Media Report 2007 onwards |
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