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4 . Early Years
The more we learn about the importance of a child ’ s early years in setting the scene for their adult life , the greater the urgency in persuading governments and the community that this investment is both critical and cost effective .
Good quality early years services , child care and kindergartens are vital for all children , but children from vulnerable families are least likely to access these services and miss out .
While we are unlikely to take on a major service provision role , we are determined to focus our own services as much as possible on the early years and to be a strong advocate for appropriate investment and services .
In the lead up to the state election last year , together with Domestic Violence Victoria , the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency , Community Child Care Victoria and the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare , we developed a proposal for a Vulnerable Children ’ s Framework , which includes a plan for children ’ s success and a child safety and wellbeing guarantee . Although we have not yet secured commitment , this was a valuable process and is part of our strong commitment to the early years .
In June , the Hon . Wendy Lovell MP , Minister for Children and Early Childhood , launched our Early Years Plan and our First Steps interactive resources , which we developed to help vulnerable parents better understand their child ’ s ‘ first steps ’. Having successfully piloted the program and developed the resources , the interactive CD was distributed to over 900 professional settings across Victoria . This innovative work would not have been possible without the generous support from the Late Barb and John Heine and Ernst and Young .
Early Learning is Fun ( ELF )
ELF was developed in the Alexandra community and we have now been able to make the program available to another 12 communities , as well as engaging the Sudanese , Afghani and Karen refugee communities . This work has only been possible through the committed support of a private foundation , for which we are immensely grateful .
Two thousand and five hundred children , 337 volunteers , 61 schools and 210 businesses enjoyed ELF Reading Days , where children dress up as their favourite book character and volunteers and business owners read stories to the children .
In partnership with Foundation House , we are helping newly arrived parents understand how they can help their children learn and integrate this into their culture and daily life . The Story of the Sudanese Cow Book is a beautiful example of this work .
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