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| Municipal Early Years Plan: Creating Communities for Children |
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The City of Greater Geelong aims to provide all children living in the municipality with the best possible start in life.
The early stages of children's development and family formation are vitally important and, because of this, young children merit a high priority.
Creating Communities for Children represents the first local social development framework which specifically addresses the needs and interests of our youngest citizens - our children. The plan focuses primarily on children aged from birth up to 8 years, along with the various family and community environments that influence children's lives.
As citizens, children have intrinsic value to the whole community in the present, not simply for what they might become in the future. Citizenship also entitles children to share in the resources, access services, and be provided with opportunities necessary to ensure their quality of life and healthy development.
Research evidence tells us conclusively that effective support provided for children and families in the first five years of children's lives, and even beginning before birth, greatly improves their future outcomes and lays the foundations for health, development and learning.
Creating Communities for Children is about encouraging the development of community environments that are conducive for families with young children throughout Geelong.
The plan is designed to assist in improving the coordination and integration of services and activities through strengthening networks and partnerships amongst agencies supporting families and children.
The plan promotes a common view, that issues affecting children's lives cannot be addressed in isolation from their family, community and broader social, economic, physical, and natural environments.
The plan incorporates a wide range of recommendations across ten key themes which include pre and post natal support, education, health, art and culture, family support, children with special needs, safety, and the environment. The specific strategies and recommendations contained within the plan, will enable service providers, planners and funding agencies to make informed decisions, maximise resources, and create new opportunities in response to identified local needs and priorities.
Provision of resources and access to quality services do make a difference and are vital to helping all children make the best possible start in life and building healthy family relationships and positive community connections.
Early intervention and prevention approaches are also important to help families with young children and communities address issues before they become more serious and deeply entrenched problems.
There is no doubt that strong cohesive communities, that support and encourage healthy families, provide the best possible environments for children's early development and learning.
The City of Greater Geelong looks forward to working with other agencies and the wide range of community and interest groups involved, to strengthen and expand the support and early development opportunities available to our children, and to build community environments in which our children and families can thrive.
Contact Details
For more information please contact:
Frank Giggins
Family Services Development Officer
City of Greater Geelong
Ph: +61 3 5227 0775
Email: fgiggins@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
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