From Community Priorities to Real Change

The SCfC journey follows a continuous, community‑driven cycle that connects community voice to real activities and outcomes. This cycle supports communities to plan, deliver, reflect and strengthen activities over time, ensuring the program remains responsive and locally relevant.

1. Community Vision & Priorities

The SCfC journey begins with Local Community Board (LCB) members drawing on their local knowledge to set a shared vision for children and families that reflects local strengths, culture and aspirations, and what the community wants to see change over time. The LCB then establish the priorities that will guide SCfC activities and investment.

2. Activity Planning & Design

LCB and Facilitating Partners (FP) work together to explore, develop and design activities that respond to community priorities. This may involve consulting with community members, services and other partners to identify the best ways to achieve local goals that are culturally appropriate.

3. Community Plan

The Community Plan brings together the community's vision, priorities, proposed activities and budget into a roadmap for the year ahead. It documents how SCfC funding will support local outcomes for children, young people and families.

4. Funding Eligibility Check with NIAA

The LCB endorsed Community Plan is submitted to the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) for review. This step ensures proposed activities align with SCfC funding requirements before delivery can begin.

5. Activity Delivery

Once approved, activities are delivered by FPs, community organisations and other local partners. This is where community priorities are turned into real action and opportunities for children, young people and families.

6. Monitoring & Learning

Throughout the year, communities gather feedback and information about how activities are progressing. This helps identify successes, understand challenges and support ongoing learning and improvement.

7. Reporting & Accountability

Reporting and Accountability help demonstrate how SCfC funding has been used and what outcomes are being achieved. It provides an opportunity to share achievements, lessons learned and progress towards community priorities.

8. Review & Strengthening

LCBs, FPs and communities reflect on what worked well and where improvements can be made. These learnings help strengthen future planning and inform the next cycle of the SCfC journey.