The beginning of Good Beginnings

Good Beginnings Australia has made remarkable progress since its inception; evolving from a Home Visiting Program of the Lions Club of Greater Sydney in 1995 to the nation’s leading early intervention program with diverse community driven programs in over 70 sites across Australia.

The early days

Good Beginnings was founded out of NAPCAN , which advocated ‘home visiting’ as a major objective in the promotion of effective care and protection of children. In November 1988, NAPCAN co-founder and Foundation president Rosemary Sinclair devised and launched ‘Neighbour Network’, a six-month pilot program at the Shalvey Police Citizens Youth Club in Sydney’s west, designed to ‘encourage community caring and help in alleviation of stress’. While the program was supported by rhe National Committee on Violence, it received little other public support.

A second step

In September 1994, former Secretary of Lions International Jim McLardie invited Rosemary to help establish the Lions Club of Greater Sydney and, with it, a local project that could be adopted by the Club. Rosemary suggested a home visiting program run with trained volunteers, an idea supported by Charter President Lion Ron Hussey.

On the advice of Senior Policy Analyst for Child and Youth Health in the NSW Health Department Barbara Wellesley, Rosemary met with organisations such as the Aboriginal Medical Service and King George V Hospital to win support for the program. Rosemary was assisted in the subsequent development process by NAPCAN member and fellow Lion Jane Ewins, Ron Hussey, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney Kim Oates, Professor of Community Paediatrics, University of Newcastle Graham Vimpani and former Director of CONTACT, June Jeremy.

A project committee developed the Lions Good Beginning draft prospectus, which was released in November 1995. Ms Veena McCarty was nominated as program coordinator, and program commencement was scheduled for mid-1996.
Following discussion with Alison Stanford of the Department of Family Services, Rosemary forwarded a copy of the Good Beginnings information for referral to the Minister.

Funding

On 20 November 1996, the then Federal Minister for Family Services the Hon. Judi Moylan MP advised Rosemary that funds were available to test a ‘network’ of parent support programs based on the Good Beginnings model. The Deputy Secretary of the Department, Ms Mary Murnane, specified this amount at $1 million, on the Government’s proviso that the project should be managed by NAPCAN for the pilot period. Four pilot sites were agreed upon, and Barbara Wellesley was nominated inaugural National Director. 

The Good Beginnings Secretariat began operation in December 1996 when a $53,000 grant was received by the Lions Club of Greater Sydney. Good Beginnings’ first official premises were in Sydney’s Angel Place, generously subsides provided for ‘peppercorn rent’ by AMP Society. The first money in the bank in May 1997 signified the beginning of the federal Government-funded, NAPCAN-managed Good Beginnings National Parenting Project.