Cumberland Children and Families Strategy 2026 - 2030
Cumberland is home to 38,683 children (forecast.id,2021) aged 0 to 12 years old with 56,688 (ABS, 2021) families living in the Cumberland area. The Cumberland Children and Families Strategy 2026 – 2030 outlines a clear, strategic framework for Council and local services working with children aged 0 to 12 years and their families over the next four years. This Strategy builds on the success of the Cumberland Children and Families Strategy 2019 – 2023 and aims to achieve improved outcomes for children through a vibrant, opportunity-rich community.
This strategy covers four priority areas:
- Access and Wellness
- Safety and Protection
- Learning and Development
- Connection and Engagement
These priority areas were identified through extensive consultation with children, parents/guardians and professionals working with children and families. The priority areas reflect the voices of Cumberland’s children and families to shape the services, programs and actions Council implements for its youngest residents.
Message from Children
Have you ever wondered what it means to live in Cumberland? To us, it means enjoying and learning things that will shape our future. It means having fun, making good friends, and having access to a great library. Being a kid here also means we can walk to the shops, park, and our school.
In the future, we would love to see more sporting grounds with pitches and courts, swim centres and parks. Also, fun spots for our friends and families to visit, like movie theaters.
Being a Cumberland kid means we enjoy seeing our friends and having their parents meet our parents, all while doing fun activities together at places like parks. We play in the park together, share food, and just have fun. In our suburbs, everyone plays with everyone, and there is always something happening, no matter the time. We are also lucky because our families can enjoy delicious meals at the best restaurants. We love being part of this community because everyone is friendly.
Children aged 5 to 12 years consulted at Council’s Out of School Hours Care Service
Children and Youth Participation Framework
Cumberland City Council’s Children and Youth Participation Framework (2021) builds the relationship between Council and the children and young people living in Cumberland by incorporating their voices and perspectives in Council decision making.
The framework outlines models for accessible and meaningful children and youth participation where they can share their experiences, opinions, interests and needs.
