BDAC chief executive Raylene Harradine said the funding will support children and their families to access local private health services to ensure better outcomes for both physical and mental health.

"At the moment, we have a paediatrician one and a bit days per week and we have a massive waiting list for him with about 546 active clients aged 0-18 years in our medical clinic," Ms Harradine said.

"Most of these children need to access additional health services - speech therapists, psychiatrists, counsellors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists - in that cohort.

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"When we applied for the grant, a major issue for our clients and our community was the long waiting list - not just for children to be diagnosed but just to see someone to know what their individuals needs are.

"Access to the private sector gives opportunities to who best suits a child to provide their care. For some, it will be a first and we know we have a lot of children who are carrying transgenerational trauma or who have experienced trauma.

"This is something that is really meaningful."

The funding is part of the Victorian Government's COVID-19 Aboriginal Community Response and Recovery Fund.

Ms Harradine said the funding will allow BDAC to employ a patient navigator who will work with the centre's internal services and link children to the private health sector.

"We needed to be clear that this funding will work with our existing programs in regards to family and children services and not just work in a reactive space; we want to be proactive," she said.

"We want this to compliment our existing services.

"As we know, healthcare needs have been exacerbated by COVID-19 and we want to make sure we're working in early prevention.

"Down the track, this will also compliment our early learning centre when that's built, and our maternal child nurse.

"We can see the change."

BDAC originally applied for more funding, but Ms Harradine said the $487,000 would give the centre the opportunity to evaluate the programs success and fine-tune its next-round of funding.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams said more than 80 initiatives across Victoria have shared in $10 million since the fund was established in July 2020.

"We're ensuring Aboriginal children in Bendigo have access to the mental and physical treatment, care and support they need to get the best possible start in life," she said.

"We're supporting Aboriginal organisations to build strong communities as we continue our commitment to self-determination for Aboriginal people."

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