History

Jumbunna was initially a small community preschool, established in 1977, and has grown into a centre providing many different services for children and families. It has grown significantly in the number of children and families, staff, services and programs provided, and capital works.

Jumbunna is the specialised early childhood intervention service for the majority of the Richmond Valley and all of Kyogle Local Government Areas, providing education, therapy, family support and integration to children with disability, developmental delay or who are at risk of delay aged birth to school age. Jumbunna supports 130 children and their families on average annually, as well as preschooling for up to 60 children without additional needs. At least thirty per cent of the families in most programs are Indigenous.

Ten programs are currently being run by Jumbunna funded by four government departments. Most of these programs have been running for several years having recurrent funding. Jumbunna was registered as one of the inaugural members of the NSW Early Childhood Intervention Association in 1982.

There are at present 48 members of staff. Jumbunna has worked in a transdisciplinary team model for many years. The team consists of early childhood and special education teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapist, therapy assistants, children services workers and administration staff.