The Family and Children’s Services Program is funded through the Department of Health and Community Services.

The Program had in the past been included in the Imabulk Program. This was done when the whole program had been set up as a Multi Purpose Service. There had always been concerns about the FACS program. With changes to the Imabulk Program, Council then set up the FACS program as a separate program.

In March 03 a program commenced based on the concept of 'play group'. The program has two primary aims: First to provide a place where young children (under pre school age) could go with their mothers/aunties/grandmothers and be involved with play and some learning activities. Secondly to provide a place where children who were not being properly cared for could go with a family member and have breakfast as well as play with other children. There were a number of families that the Department of Children’s Services had expressed concern about and this program was seen as one way of helping those children.

The Program is also available for the Pre Schoolers to join in when they finish at recess time. These children can come to the Play Group Centre and have something to eat and a play.

The Play group runs three mornings a week from 7.30am to lunch time. A part time Family and Children’s Worker is employed and is assisted by two CDEP workers.

It is planned that Belyuen Council will be able to establish a Creche in the near future and the Play Group will evolve into a Creche. A number of women have expressed interest in doing a Child Care Course in 04.

When the Program was first set up a number of different services offered their assistance to come and do some workshops with the families attending the play group. Unfortunately this program is no different to many others when people come from Darwin and promise assistance then go back to Darwin and not heard from again for a long time. The Department of Family Services and the Play group Association have put some resources into the Centre.