THE Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Toronto could be forced to close its doors if changes are not made to the federal budget, Labor's Member for Charlton Pat Conroy warned this week.
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The centre, which has been open only for about a month, provides a range of medical services along with counselling, TAFE courses and a child day care service for local Aborigines.
Lake Macquarie has one of the largest indigenous populations in NSW.
Mr Conroy said it would be "a tragedy" if Nikinpa closed when the National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Indigenous Early Childhood Development expired at the end of June.
Mr Conroy said the NPA committed $564 million for the establishment of 38 children and family centres, including $6.5 million to build the new facility at Toronto.
The federal government's budget contributed no money to renewing the NPA.
"Nikinpa provide essential child care, health and educational services for our local Aboriginal families," Mr Conroy said.
"Not renewing the NPA will have devastating and long-lasting effects, which threaten to undermine our efforts to Closing the Gap in indigenous disadvantage.
"Tony Abbott will be remembered as the Prime Minister to 'Widen the Gap'."
Nikinpa manager Emma Beckett said the centre has not had the opportunity to show all that it can do for the community.
"If there is no funding we don't get that opportunity and the community doesn't benefit either," Ms Beckett said.
If funding to Nikinpa is not renewed, Ms Beckett said the centre might have to start charging service providers, such as doctors and counsellors, a fee for using the building.
Such a fee might discourage them from attending the centre.
A spokesman for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said the NPA on Indigenous Early Childhood Development simply funded the establishment of the centres and was not designed to fund ongoing operational costs.
"The previous government did not provide for ongoing operational funding for the Children and Family Centres because they expected the states and territories to look after them," the spokesman said.
"States and territories were given the properties. Future operation of the centres is primarily a matter for them. However, ongoing Commonwealth support will be available through existing programs and services."
Mr Conroy called on the government to renew funding and on NSW Premier Mike Baird to raise the issues around the centres when he sat down with Mr Abbott.
