CITY OF GREATER GEELONG MUNICIPAL EARLY YEARS … · The City of Greater Geelong is committed to the development of positive and healthy home and community environments that support

CITY OF GREATER GEELONGMUNICIPAL EARLYYEARS PLAN2013-2017A PLACE FOR US!

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

April 2014

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Further information

Enquiries relating to the content of this publication should be directed to:

City of Greater GeelongFamily Services Department03 5272 5272Fax 03 5272 4277PO Box 104Geelong VIC 3220Email: [email protected]

The City of Greater Geelong acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of the lands in our region – the Wathaurong people – and pays respect to their Elders both past and present.

The City of Greater Geelong is committed to the

development of positive and healthy home and

community environments that support the needs

of children and families. One of our most important

and greatest assets as a community is our children.

Sometimes we can tend to take them a bit for granted.

There is no doubt that strong cohesive communities,

which support and encourage healthy families, provide

the best possible environments for children’s early

development and learning.

Our responsibility is to ensure that we give our young

children the best possible start in life, protect their

interests and provide the greatest opportunities for

their future. There is a lot in our community that we

are already doing well for young children but we can

always do better.

The Municipal Early Years Plan: A Place for Us sets

out our ambitions and aspirations for improving the

lives of local children over the next four year period

and explains how we intend to achieve these goals. We

want Greater Geelong to be the best place for families

and young children to live, grow, and develop.

TABLE OF CONTENTSMAYOR’S MESSAGE ...................................................................................................... 5

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 6

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 7

PURPOSE .................................................................................................................... 8

CHILDREN’S VOICE AND PARTICIPATION ....................................................................... 9

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA ................................................................ 10

POLICY CONTEXT ......................................................................................................... 12

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE .............................................................................................. 13

ENSURING SUCCESS ................................................................................................... 16

THEMES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................... 17

APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF TERMS .............................................................................. 35

APPENDIX 2: PROTECTIVE AND RISK FACTORS ............................................................. 36

APPENDIX 3: REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 37

APPENDIX 4: EARLY CHILDHOOD TARGET MEASURES ................................................... 38

APPENDIX 5: RELEVANT COUNCIL POLICIES & STRATEGIES ........................................... 41

Despite many good things that are already being done

and the progress we have made in the last few years,

achieving this goal will require the development of

new commitments over the long term, and across all

areas of Geelong. This will be delivered in partnership

with families, service providers, community groups,

business enterprises, and other levels of Government.

Achieving our ambition is dependent on all services for

children working together at a local level.

On behalf of Council and the City of Greater Geelong,

I invite you to participate with us in this plan and

making our municipality a great place to live for every

young child and family.

Cr Darryn LyonsCity of Greater Geelong Mayor

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

City of Greater Geelong: Municipal Early Years Plan 2013-2017 // 5


A Place For Us is the City of Greater Geelong Municipal

Early Years Plan (MEYP) for 2013 - 2017. It provides

a future vision and action plan for the provision of

programs, services, facilities and supports for families

with children from birth to eight years of age, living in

the municipality.

A Place For Us supports the City of Greater Geelong

to ensure that all children living in the municipality

have the best possible start in life. It acknowledges

the importance of a child’s early years as critical to

future success and regards the co-ordination and

delivery of programs, services and supports to families

with children as a vital component to establishing a

community which supports all its citizens to succeed. A

Place For Us builds on the strengths and achievements

of the previous MEYP, Creating Communities for

Children, released in 2006.

Greater Geelong is the largest regional city and one of

the largest municipalities in Victoria, by population.

There are over 23,500 children aged from birth to 8

years living in the municipality, with the population of

children continuing to steadily grow. These children,

and their families, are supported by over 500 local

programs and services that focus on their health,

wellbeing, development, and education.

A Place For Us: City of Greater Geelong Municipal

Early Years Plan (2013 – 2017) provides an important

planning framework to continue to strengthen the

support and opportunities that are necessary and

available for young children, families, and service

providers throughout the municipality. Significant

achievements and evidence of excellent outcomes and

great work is clearly evident – but more can always

be done! Not all our children have access to equal

opportunities, and not all are achieving the desirable

and necessary benchmarks to provide a sound and

healthy basis for their development and learning.

The City of Greater Geelong continues to play an

important role and makes a significant investment

toward improving support and opportunities for local

children and families. Over recent years considerable

investment has been made to improve provision

of children’s services infrastructure within the

municipality, with many new and refurbished buildings

and facilities being made available. The City of Greater

Geelong has also played a critical role in introducing

a range of strategies and initiatives to promote best

possible outcomes for children and families.

A Place For Us also acknowledges the commitment,

dedication, and collaborative efforts of the child

and family services sector more broadly, which was

identified as a key strength of the service provider

sector in community consultations.

Critical to the development of this MEYP is

acknowledgement that the voices and opinions of

children are important to ensure the plan incorporates

the needs and priorities of those it aims to support.

Special thanks are extended to all community members,

including children, families, service providers and City

of Greater Geelong personnel, who contributed to the

consultation process in developing the MEYP. Their

comments, reflections and insights were critical in the

development of this document.

A Place for Us is not merely an aspirational document

that articulates the hopes and desires of a better future

for children across the City of Greater Geelong. Rather,

it is a document that aims to guide the every day

decision-making processes for those working with and

alongside children across the community in order to

ensure that every child succeeds as they make their

way through their childhood.

The City of Greater Geelong wishes to acknowledge and thank the

children, parents, and local service providers who have participated

in the development of this Municipal Early Years Plan, Special

thanks is extended to the children and staff from the following local

services for their help and involvement in our workshops:

Surfside Primary School – Ocean Grove

Newcomb Park Primary School

Manifold Heights Primary School

William Hovell Kindergarten – Corio

St Lukes Kindergarten – Highton

Kardinia Kids Child Care and Kindergarten – Bell Post Hill

Thanks and appreciation is also extended to the consultants from

Semann and Slattery Pty Ltd for leading the development of the

plan, along with the members of the Project Reference Group:

Project Reference Group:

Cr Kylie Fisher Portfolio Community Development

Jenny McMahon General Manager Community Services

Linda Quinn Manager Family Services

Scott Cavanagh Manager Capital Projects

Paul Jane Manager Sport and Recreation

Paul Jamieson Manager Community Development

Kaz Paton Manager Arts and Culture

Malcolm Kuhn Manager Leisure Services

Alf Della Monica Coordinator Corporate Strategy

Frank Giggins Coordinator Family Services Planning

Chad Foulkes Coordinator Healthy Communities

Liz Wood Social Planner

Maree Crellin Coordinator Community Child Health

Lisa Demajo Coordinator Education and Care

INTRODUCTION

City of Greater Geelong: Municipal Early Years Plan 2013-2017 // 9City of Greater Geelong: Municipal Early Years Plan 2013-2017 // 8

Over the past few years and particularly in the last

decade, there has been growing acceptance that

children should be involved in making decisions that

affect them. Children should be involved in service

planning for a number of reasons. These include

better services, promoting children’s citizenship and

social inclusion, and enhancing personal and social

education and development. Children’s participation

means that children are involved in decision-making

processes. This means that services used by children

are developed or provided locally; and where national,

State and local policies and services are being

developed or evaluated, this is done in consultation

with children.

Participation might involve a range of approaches.

Children may be consulted at the beginning of policy

developments in order to stimulate thinking and ideas.

Small groups of children and young people might be

active members in a decision-making body responsible

for the services, and some children may even be

involved in service delivery. It should be noted that no

one focus or method will be appropriate in all cases.

Best practice principles for children’s participation

include the following:

• a visible commitment is made to involving

children and young people, underpinned by

appropriate resources to build a capacity to

implement policies of participation

• children’s involvement is valued

• children have an equal opportunity to get

involved

• policies and standards for the participation

of children are provided, evaluated and

continuously improved

• setting realistic objectives and choosing

appropriate methods for children’s participation

• involving more marginal groups and those that

might be overlooked

• consider information and support – for adults

and the children.3

Whilst children’s participation is an important principle

and a human right under the UN Convention on

the Rights of the Child (1989), participation should

not be merely seen as tokenistic. The purpose of

participation is to ensure improved outcomes for

children themselves, as well as for the organisation

and wider community. The involvement of children

is only likely to be meaningful to children if they can

see that their views have been taken into account and

have made a difference, and that this leads to change

(where they identify change is needed)4. Children have

been an important part of the consultation process in

the development of the Municipal Early Years Plan,

and their views and priorities have been specifically

included as a key feature of the plan.

CHILDREN’S VOICE AND PARTICIPATIONA Municipal Early Years Plan (MEYP) is a local area

plan designed to inform the planning, development

and coordination of programs, services and facilities for

children birth to eight years of age, and their families.

It is a component of the Municipal Association of

Victoria (MAV) and the Department of Education and

Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Partnership

Agreement. This agreement recognises the significant

role of local government across the early years sector, in

relation to planning, coordination and service provision;

advocacy and community capacity building.1

The commitment of local government, including the

City of Greater Geelong, to ensuring the best possible

outcomes for children and families dates back to

1917, with the establishment of the state’s first baby

health service.2 In 2004, the City of Greater Geelong

participated in an investigation by the Victorian

Premier’s Department, which led to a number of

recommendations, including a stronger role for local

government and the further development, expansion

and strengthening of MEYPs in promoting better

outcomes for children and families.

The City of Greater Geelong continues to embrace its

leadership role in providing all children living in the

municipality with the best possible start in life. This is

evidenced in the 2006 MEYP, Creating Communities

for Children. The 2013 - 2017 MEYP, A Place For Us,

builds on the strengths and successes of this previous

document. It provides a future vision and action plan

for the municipality in response to the development and

delivery of early childhood services, including support

for young children and families. It complements a

number of Federal, State and Local Government

priorities and policies, and regional and local level

projects and initiatives. Importantly, it is informed by

and responsive to local characteristics and influences,

and identified community priorities and needs.

PURPOSE

1 Municipal Association of Victoria (2011)2 Best Value Service Review (2004)

3 Department for Education and Skills (2001)4 Department for Education and Skills (2003)


The early years of a child’s life has been identified as having a significant impact on their future growth and

development. A good start in life is likely to prevent health, behavioural and learning difficulties later in life.

Therefore an investment in the early years pays off in the long term as children and families receive the

necessary resources and skills to participate in the social and political worlds in which they reside.

Arguably, the importance of supporting families during times of need and at various critical points of their

child’s life is recognised as necessary to ensure children have a great start to life.

Families are an important social structure and their role in raising children should never be underestimated.

Research demonstrates that when the responsibility for raising and supporting children extends beyond the

traditional realms of families, children have greater success in life.

As such, there has been unprecedented focus on the critical role services play in supporting children and

their families. This approach is best defined as an ecological model.5 The model suggests that the social,

cultural and political contexts can exert indirect influences on children’s development, as seen in Figure 1.

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

5 Bronfenbrenner (1994)

Figure 1: Early childhood ecological model.

Adopted from Bronfenbrenner (1979). Source: Sayers (2012)

The ecological model emphasises the fact that

children’s development and learning is influenced and

affected by multiple and inter-related factors including:

• individual influences such as their genetic

inheritance, temperament, gender, and health;

• influences within the family – such as

parenting styles and values, the family’s

financial situation, parents’ level of education,

parents’ occupation, and parents’ physical and

mental health;

• influences within the community – including

the level of support available; and

• influences within the broader social and

cultural context.

The cumulative affect of these influences, across all

ecological levels, generate both protective factors and

risk factors, impacting on children’s development,

as evidenced in Appendix 2. It is therefore essential

that service providers, who exist within this ecological

system, are cognisant of their role, and respond

appropriately to the varied influences on a child and

their families’ life.

Traditionally, families were required to navigate the

service system on their own in order to access the

resources and support they required. An emerging

body of literature suggests that such an approach no

longer serves the needs of families. This has resulted

in a greater focus on integrated service delivery.

Service integration is best understood as ‘an ecological

Integrated Children’s System’ that is centred on the child

and their family, served through service coordination,

and supported through integrated organisations and

agencies’.6

The term ‘Integrated Service Delivery’ refers to the

process of building connections between services in

order to work together as one to deliver services that

are more comprehensive and cohesive, as well as

services being more accessible and more responsive

to the needs (ultimately) of families and their children.

The service system now includes a diverse range of

service providers and combined, their efforts to support

families has seen greater outcomes being delivered as

a result of increased collaboration.

A collaborative approach to working together is key

to the successful implementation of this MEYP, and

emerged as a key theme from community consultations.

Working together, includes not only Council working

productively with partners, but requires a greater focus

on inter-council departments working collaboratively to

ensure the objectives of this MEYP are realised for all

children and families across our community.

6 Siraj-Blatchford & Siraj-Blatchford (2009)


A Place For Us is informed by key policies, reforms

and initiatives, internationally, nationally and locally.

From an international perspective, this includes a

commitment to uphold children’s rights, drawing on

the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. It also

includes awareness of cities international enterprises,

such as the Child Friendly Initiative, which is seen as

the embodiment of the Convention at a local level.7

From a national perspective, it encompasses recent

Australian government reforms that acknowledge

the importance of the early years as being critical for

children’s learning and development. This sits alongside

research that demonstrates the social and economical

advantages of investing in the early years for children,

families and communities.8 This includes the Council

of Australian Government’s (COAG) National Quality

Framework, incorporating the Early Years Learning

Framework (2009), which aims to ensure every child

has access to the best start possible in life.9 This

vision is supported by State government ventures, as

evidenced in the strategy paper Victoria’s Vulnerable

Children (2013) and the Victorian Early Years Learning

and Development Framework (2009).

From a regional perspective, it draws on the work of

the G21 Geelong Region Alliance, which addresses

regional needs through collaboration, information

exchange and local level planning. The 2011 report,

Growing up in G21 – The Health and Wellbeing of

Children 0–8 Years in the G21 Region, is one example

of this. This report aligns with international, national

and state early years frameworks identified previously,

while providing critical information to inform the

development and maintenance of quality service

provision for children aged birth to eight years, and

their families.10

POLICY CONTEXT

From a local level perspective, it draws on a range

of policy documents developed by the City of Greater

Geelong, with and for the community. This begins

with a review of the implementation, outcomes and

successes of the previous MEYP. It is also informed

by and complements identified priorities and processes

impacting children and families, as stipulated in a range

of Council policies, plans and strategy documents.

These are included as Appendix 5.

Together, these policy and plan documents highlight a

number of critical factors in the provision of programs

and services for families with children from birth to

eight years of age, including:

• The importance of the early years of a child’s

life for promoting optimal learning and

development;

• A focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable

children and families;

• The unique strengths, priorities and needs of

children and families from diverse backgrounds,

experiences and life circumstances;

• Working collaboratively, with families and

professionals, to promote responsive service

provision that address issues of access, quality,

equity and inclusivity, and support strong and

cohesive communities; and

• Council’s commitment to community

consultation and stakeholder engagement,

to meet the identified needs, aspirations and

priorities of children, families and community.

7 UNICEF (2009) 8 See Grunewald & Rolnick (2005); Heckman, Moon, Pinto, Savelyev & Yavitz (2010)

9 DEEWR (2009)10 G21 Geelong Region Alliance (2011)

The City of Greater Geelong is one of Victoria’s largest

municipalities with a rapidly growing population that

now exceeds 220,000. Understanding the local

characteristics is critical in ensuring that the MEYP

reflects the current and future needs of a community.

The City of Greater Geelong, like many other

municipalities has and is experiencing changes in its

population of children and families.

The G21 Regional Growth Plan indicates that the

region is growing at a faster rate than that of regional

Victoria. By 2026 the City of Greater Geelong can

expect a population increase in the order of 31%,

with forward projections estimating that the region’s

population could reach 500,000 by 2050.11

Growth is being accommodated in several areas across

the municipality in addition to indications of recent

regeneration within more established inner city suburbs.

The proximity of the municipality to Melbourne and

popular coastal regions increasingly makes the City

of Greater Geelong a desirable destination for young

families.

Expected population growth will inevitably have a

significant impact upon the need for new infrastructure

and service provision, to support children and families.

While population growth is a key factors driving

change, the need to address disadvantage and

vulnerability amongst local children and families also

remains a high priority. Location of services, including

health, education and community facilities, and

provision of housing and transport, strongly influences

the opportunities available for families to participate in

their community. It also impacts on their opportunities

to access education and employment and connect to

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

social support and activities. To some extent it can

also mitigate or reduce the level of vulnerability and

disadvantage children may experience.

Other changes are reflected in the proportion of families

with both parents working which has risen dramatically,

with 58 per cent of all ‘couple with children’ families

having both parents in the workforce.12

The following provides a graphic summary of key

demographic factors that reflect the changing shape

of children, families and communities across Greater

Geelong, and will provide the social context for the

implementation of the MEYP.

11 G21 Regional Growth Plan Figure 3.1 (2012, p. 29)12 Cassells, Toohey, Keegan & Mohanty (2013)


297,9562031

14

221,4962013

14

37.4%37.1%

12.1% 10.7%

Births recorded in the City of Greater Geelong as of April 2013.This represents an increase in the number of births compared with the previous year.16

Aver

age

annu

al p

erce

ntag

e ra

te o

f 1

.66

% 1

4

210,8742011

13

POPULATION

Births

Child Population

Fam

ilies

/ H

ouse

hold

s

2011 2013 2031

In 2011, there was approximately 13,067 children aged birth to 4 years of age, or 6.2% of the resident population. The number of children aged 5 to 9 years of age in 2011 was 12,755, or 6.0% of the resident population.17

Forecast numbers of children aged birth to 4 years for 2013 are 13,343 and for 2031 are 17,674. Forecast numbers of children aged 5 to 9 years for 2013 are 13,731 and for 2031 are 18,280.18

2011 2013 2031

Birth to 4 years 5 to 9 years

28.3%

26%

11.5%

26.4%

Couples with children

Couples without children

One-parent families

Lone persons

*33.6% in Greater Melbourne

*22.3% in Greater Melbourne 15

13 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Population, households and dwellings. 14 Forecast.id (2013). Population forecasts. City of Greater Geelong.

15 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Households summary.16 Maternal & Child Health Birth Notifications in City of Greater Geelong May 2003 to April 2013.

17 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Five year age groups.18 Forecast.id (2013). Age structure. City of Greater Geelong.

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Greater Geelong is 1,789, which represents 0.8% of the total population.20

In recent years there has been an increase of people arriving from Africa, Liberia, the Middle East and Burma, including refugees and humanitarian entrants.21

ANCESTRIES

Migration

LANGUAGE

54% of the City of Greater Geelong population did not move between 2006 and 2011. Of the 35.2% of the population who did move in this timeframe, 20.4% of people moved within the City of Greater Geelong.24

18.8% of children in the City of Greater Geelong are developmentally vulnerable in one or more developmental domains

9.3% are developmentally vulnerable in two or more domains

The Australian Early Development Index Results from the 2012 AEDI indicate that many children in the City of Greater Geelong are performing well against the AEDI developmental domains. However, areas of greater vulnerability are evident across the municipality and require urgent action.25

19 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Ancestry.20 Census QuickStats Greater Geelong (2011).

21 City of Greater Geelong Multicultural Action Plan (2011-2014).22 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Proficiency in English.

23 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Need for assistance.24 profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Migration summary.

25 AEDI (2012). Greater Geelong community, Victoria.

AssistanceIn 2011, 11,877 people or 5.6% of the population in the City of Greater Geelong needed assistance in their daily lives due to disability.

This included 154 children aged from birth to 4 years and 433 children aged from 5 to 9 years of age.23

Speak English only

*66.3% in Greater Melbourne

86.3% 8.2% speak another language and English well or very well (compared with 24% for Greater Melbourne). 20,548 people (i.e. 9.6% of the population) speak a language other than English (compared with 29.1% for Greater Melbourne).22

The four largest ancestries in the City of Greater Geelong are AUSTRALIAN, ENGLISH, IRISH and SCOTTISH.19


The successful implementation of this plan requires

the careful consideration of a number of factors. This

includes a shared responsibility, a commitment to the

vision and action steps, and a process of evaluation

and review.

It is essential that there is shared ownership amongst

stakeholders, including the City of Greater Geelong and

our community partners, and a desire to work together

to enact the plan and promote quality outcomes for

children and their families. This includes undertaking

a process to gain clarity of the individual and collective

responsibilities of all involved in the coordination and

delivery of programs and services.

It is also critical that there is provision for ongoing

reflection and evaluation. This includes processes

for adjusting action steps in response to changing

community needs over time, and to barriers that

might emerge along the way. Further, successful

implementation of the plan requires a means of

measuring success, to observe and monitor progress

towards and the completion of the identified action

steps.

To ensure the success of this plan, the City of Greater

Geelong will work with our community partners to:

• Formalise a shared commitment to the plan

and the accountability of those involved in

implementing it. This will include developing

protocols to ensure it remains a priority of

stakeholders;

• Develop processes for communicating key

achievements across the child and family

service sector, and to the broader community;

• Regularly review progress towards the identified

action steps, acknowledging and building on

what is working well, and seeking solutions to

challenges; and

ENSURING SUCCESS

• Document the process of implementing

the plan, noting strengths, successes and

challenges, to inform the development of the

next MEYP.

• Target new initiatives and interventions to

address the needs and issues for children and

families identified as being at most risk in the

community.

Through the collective voices of children, families, and

child and family service providers, six themes emerged

as warranting further attention to ensure all children

living in the municipality receive the best start to life.

The six themes align with the four key principles of

the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the

foundations for building a Child Friendly City. These

four principles relate to the provision of a friendly and

inclusive city for all children; a community that ensures

the best interests of all children is a key consideration;

one that provides optimal conditions for all children

now; and one where children’s views are sought and

respected.26

The six themes of A Place For Us are:

1. Safeguarding the best interests of all young

children

2. Building community

3. Services working together

4. Celebrating diversity

5. Promoting a healthy community

6. Planning for now and in the future

Safeguarding the best interests of all young children

Ensuring all children have the best possible start in

life is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights

of the Child. Within Australia, it is also an increasing

priority of all levels of government. The responsibility

for improving outcomes for all children lies not only

with their families but also with the community as a

whole. This includes Council and non-Council services

providing a range of programs, activities and facilities

for families and young children within the municipality

and being mindful of families’ priorities, needs and

concerns. For example, 25% of families who completed

THEMES AND STRATEGIES

an online survey as part of the consultation process,

highlighted access and affordability of child and family

services and programs as an issue. This sentiment was

supported by more than 50% of service providers who

completed the online survey.


requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing the

dual roles of action and advocacy. Such an approach

must also recognise and build on community strengths

and expertise. This includes listening and responding to

the opinions of young children about issues impacting

on their lives. As demonstrated in the consultation

process for this MEYP, young children living in the City

of Greater Geelong have strong views and ideas about

what would enhance their quality of life, and others

in the community. This includes being connected to

family and friends at a local level, and being connected

globally through computer technology. It also includes

an awareness of social issues impacting all levels of

community, such as health and safety, access to food

and housing, and sustainability.


is also informed by current research, legislation,

policy and best practice guidelines to ensure local

solutions address local needs and priorities. As an

example, the Australian Early Development Index data

demonstrates that most of children living within the

City of Greater Geelong are on track developmentally.

However, 18.8% of children in the City of Greater

Geelong are developmentally vulnerable in one or more

developmental domains and approximately 9.3% in

two or more domains.27

This data supports a holistic approach is necessary to

improving outcomes for all children, recognising that

there are pockets of greater need in all suburbs of the

municipality.

26 UNICEF (2004)27 AEDI (2012). Greater Geelong Community, Victoria

1


HEARING AND RESPONDING TO CHILDREN

What you told us:

• You told us that using computers was a great

way for you to access information and that

mobile phones were an important way for you

to talk to your friends and family.

• You told us that your friends mean a lot to

you and that you want to live in a community

where people help each other.

• You told us that homeless people was an issue

that you want adults to do something about.

• You told us that every person should have

enough food to eat and that the community

should make sure no one is hungry.

What we are going to do about this:

• We are going to make sure we have all the

information we need to act on the issues that

you told us matters to you.

• We are going to share this information with

other adults who are employed to support you

and your family.

• We are going to try out new ideas and

projects to see if they make a difference in the

community.

• We are going to work together to make this

community great for you and your family.

Strategies:

• Council will make best use of research and

evidence based data relating to the current

state of children’s well-being and development,

to help inform the development of programs

and initiatives across the community.

• Council will maintain its commitment to

disseminate and make available to our

community partners the research and evidence

base data we collect that will assist them in the

development and delivery of child and family

services.

• Council will explore opportunities to seek

funding for or self-fund pilot projects to address

gaps in service delivery to promote the optimal

health, development and well-being of all

children, as informed by research data.

• Council will advocate at a Federal

government level for greater funding to be

allocated to subsidise the costs related to

program improvements associated with

the implementation of the National Quality

Standards.

• Council will implement sound planning for

services and facilities for early childhood

programs based on equitable distribution

and access to these programs across the

municipality, with clear links to meet population

projections and local community needs.

• Council will undertake an investigation of

existing child and family services and programs

within the municipality to determine how

families currently access services and share

key findings with service providers in order to

address barriers and improve access.

• Council will undertake an initiative to locate

current information clearinghouses (e.g. Centre

for Community Child Heath, AEDI) and make

this information available to child and family

service providers and families.

• Council will compile and communicate key

information about existing child and family

support networks within the municipality

to promote increased membership and

participation. This will include key contacts,

contact details, purpose and activities, etc.

• Council and our community partners will

establish a formal partnership agreement with

local networks and organisations that supports

an initiative of cross-promotional strategies

related to events and programs.

• Council will develop and endorse consultation

protocols and processes that ensure children

are actively included in future planning of

programs, facilities and activities for young

children and their families living in the

municipality.

Building community

Creating a sense of belonging for all is critical for

building a cohesive and connected community. This

requires consideration of the unique and diverse

needs, preferences and backgrounds of all members of

the community. It recognises the increasing demands

on, and sometimes complex needs of families in an

ever-changing world. Such demands, if not addressed,

can lead to a lack of community connection, increased

social isolation and stress, and reduced levels of well-

being. Creating a child and family friendly community

requires attention to be given to the ways in which

the built environment is planned. A child and family

friendly built environment welcomes all children and

families in a way that supports their participation in

community life. It respects their dignity and upholds

their citizenship in ways that allows equal access to

programs and participation in the built environment.

As such, government and non-government agencies

must give attention to the ways in which community

and services are planned so that every child and family

is sent a clear message that their participation in our

communities is welcomed.

Critically, young children who were engaged in the

consultation process for this MEYP reported that

having friends and access to outdoor spaces was what

they liked most about their community. However,

20% of children who completed the on-line survey

as part of the consultation process did not feel safe

walking or cycling around their local community. 25%

of families and 30% of service providers support this

view. In addition, families and services providers alike,

nominated improved public transport options as one of

the top three things that would make the City of Greater

Geelong a great place to live for families and young

children. This plan will promote a sense of community

by maximising opportunities for young children, and

their families, to engage with others through safe

access to a range of facilities, activities and events that

are responsive to their diverse interests, priorities and

needs.


What you told us:

• You told us that you love being outside with

your friends and this was the best thing about

where you live.

• You told us that sometimes you don’t feel safe

on the streets when you are walking around or

riding your bikes.

• You told us that you need more buses and

trains to help get you, your friends and your

family across the community.


• We are going to talk to you and your friends

when we are designing parks and public

spaces so we make sure that the things you

enjoy playing with are included.

• We are going to look at how we can make

bike paths safer through better lights and also

make sure others can see you so you don’t feel

isolated when riding your bike.

• We are going to talk to the State government

about why we need more buses and trains and

we are going to ask them to see if they can pay

for these.

• We are going to have events that you and your

family can come to so you can celebrate and

have fun with other people who live in the City

of Geelong.

2


Strategies:

• Council will create a municipality map detailing

child and family friendly parks and the facilities

within them. This information will be made

available to service providers and families.

• Council will consult with young children in

the planning and design of public places

and spaces that are welcoming, inclusive,

accessible and stimulating. We will utilise

consultation protocols established for this

purpose and provide support to Council

personnel involved in these initiatives.

• Council will provide information about local

community facilities, ensure costs and other

relevant information is included where it isn’t

currently, and update this information regularly.

• Council will maintain and enhance well-

connected walkways and bike paths to increase

the visibility and safety of young children and

families across the municipality.

• Council will advocate at a State government

level for efficient and effective public transport

coverage and options across the municipality to

promote easy access to services and facilities.


continue to plan for and promote child and

family friendly community events that celebrate

the diversity of community members and

promote community harmony and cohesion.

Services working together

Research would indicate that there are a number of

ways to support the healthy growth and development

of children and their families. Firstly, it is imperative

that an approach that identifies the needs of children

and families earlier rather than later is embedded in the

service delivery model. This early intervention approach

works from a platform that suggests that the support

that children and families require is best provided as

early as possible in order to reduce the complexities that

may result from intervening later on. Secondly, there is

a growing body of evidence relating to the benefits of

integrated service delivery for improving outcomes for

young children and their families. Integrated service

delivery is a way of ‘working together’ to promote more

efficient, accessible and responsive service delivery for

families with young children.28

Integration is often described as a continuum,

which incorporates cooperation, coordination and

collaboration.29 Within the consultation process,

a shared commitment to the early years, and a

collaborative approach to working with others, was

highlighted as one of the strengths of the local child

and family service sector. This is evidenced in the large

number of established networks operating across the

municipality. In addition, most families who completed

the on-line survey as part of the consultation process

agreed that many services worked well together and

referred families appropriately to other services as

required. This supports emerging evidence of the

value of integrated service delivery in providing a

better fit for families’ needs. Looking to the future,

there are opportunities to formalise and build on this

commitment through a more cohesive approach to

integrated service delivery.

28 Keast, Brown & Mandell (2007)29 Moore (2008)


What you told us:

• That it is important that you, your family and

friends get the help when needed.


• We are going to make time for adults who work

with you to get together and talk about how we

can best help you and your family.

• We are going to make sure it is easy for you

and your family to find out about who can help

you when you need help.

Strategies:

• Council will source and facilitate professional

development specific to best practice integrated

service delivery for child and family services

across the municipality.

• Internally, Council will uphold quality

partnerships in the projects and activities

we undertake across Council that support

an integrated approach, e.g. urban planners

collaborating with children’s services staff

regarding designing child and family friendly

sites.

• Council and our community partners will use

the MEYP to create a shared vision for the child

and family service sector into the future, and

develop an engagement process to support

this.


pilot universal referral processes to ensure

a ‘no wrong door approach’ for families

accessing child and family services across the

municipality.

3



• We are going to continue to celebrate all the

great things about living in a community where

people are different from each other.

• We are going to make sure that the adults who

support you and your family know about what

it means to work with people who are different

to them so they can make sure they do what is

best for you and your family.

• We are going to make sure we talk to elders in

the community who you look up to. We want

to talk to them to make sure we are doing what

is best for the community.

Strategies:

• Council will increase the cultural competence

and cultural awareness of child and family

service providers through the provision of

training and resources. This will include the

development of resources for service providers

outlining key considerations of culturally

respectful practice.

• Council will create opportunities to involve

community elders and representatives

from culturally and linguistically diverse

communities and Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander communities, in the planning,

delivery and review of services for families and

young children to ensure service provision is

culturally respectful and responsive.


continue to plan community events and

activities that reflect the diverse backgrounds,

interests and priorities of families and young

children.

• Council will develop protocols for service

providers on how to engage with families

in ways that are respectful of families’

backgrounds, histories, experiences and

priorities.

Celebrating diversity

The City of Greater Geelong boasts a vibrant population

rich in diversity. Beginning with the original inhabitants

and custodians of the land, the Wathaurong people,

the municipality today hosts people from a number of

countries, with one in five people from a culturally and

linguistically diverse background (CALD).30 In addition

to diverse cultural backgrounds, families with young

children living in the municipality also have varying

histories and life experiences, sometimes resulting in

complex needs. Most families who completed the on-

line survey as part of the consultation process agreed

that service providers asked about their background,

history, and what was important to them. However,

more than 25% of families disagreed with this

sentiment.

The City of Greater Geelong Multicultural Action

(2011-2014) recognises the diverse needs of the

local community, the importance of ensuring harmony

and cohesion within the community, and the active

participation of all community members. This is

addressed through four planning themes that are

equally relevant to this MEYP. They include:

1. Respect and Recognition;

2. Access and Equity;

3. Responsive Services; and

4. Support of Community.

This MEYP draws on these planning themes by

developing specific actions to address the identified

priorities, needs and interests of families with young

children.


What you told us:

• That you enjoy living in a community where

there are people who are different to you.

• That you enjoy going to events and parties

where you can celebrate differences.

• That you want to feel welcomed and like you

belong wherever you are in the community.

30 City of Greater Geelong Multicultural Action Plan (2011-2014)

4

31 AEDI (2012). Greater Geelong Community, Victoria

Promoting a healthy community

Improving health outcomes is a priority of government,

services providers and community members. This is

particularly so in the face of increasing risk factors

including physical inactivity, drug and alcohol

consumption, poor nutrition, and increased stress, all

of which impact on health and well-being. Addressing

these risk factors through promoting a healthy lifestyle

reduces the risk of disease, eases pressure on resources,

and promotes increased well-being.

The health of children and families was of critical

importance for family members and service providers

who participated in the consultation process. In

addition, access to outdoor spaces, sporting facilities

and pools was highlighted by young children in the

consultation process as what they liked most and what

they would like more of. However, 40% of families

and 45% of service providers who completed the on-

line survey as part of the consultation process felt that

the cost to access and participate in some physical

activities is prohibitive.

The majority of children living in Greater Geelong are

on track with regard to physical health and well-being

according to AEDI data. However, 8.6% of children

are developmentally vulnerable. This percentage is

significantly higher in pockets of the community,

most particularly in the suburbs of Whittington, South

Geelong/ Breakwater and surrounds, Bell Park, Bell

Post Hill, North Geelong, Corio, and St Leonards/

Indented Head.31 It is critical that this plan is mindful

of and responsive to these findings.


What you told us:

• That you want everyone to feel healthy and

safe.

• That you enjoy doing things outside with your

family.

• That some of the best things about living in

your community was the parks, sports and

pools.


• We are going to make sure that parks, pools,

and bike paths are kept in good condition so

you can enjoy using them.

• We are going to make sure you have lots of

playgroups to play in.

Strategies:

• Council will continue to maintain and upgrade

natural spaces, walkways, bike paths and

sporting facilities to provide opportunities for

structured and unstructured physical activity

across the municipality. This will include

facilities for parents and other family members

to engage in physical activity together with

their children.

• Council will provide and promote affordable

family friendly community events, festivals and

activities that incorporate a health and well-

being focus.

• Council will advocate at a State government

level for initiatives targeting health and well-

being outcomes to be afforded priority in grants

and funding opportunities.

• Council will continue to advocate for access to

school playgrounds outside of school hours, as

outlined in the Geelong Play Strategy.


actively participate in Healthy Together

Geelong, a Victorian Government Initiative,

to promote increased health and well-

being outcomes for children, families and

communities.

5


a crucial role in the planning, development and

provision of local early childhood services, buildings

and facilities. Council has demonstrated a strong

commitment to improve the provision of children’s

service infrastructure, adopting new approaches to

service delivery and innovative building design in the

development of new facilities for children and families.


What you told us:

• That you want to make sure that future

generations have access to all the things you

enjoy about living in Geelong.


• We are going to be thoughtful about how we

plan for future generations and make sure that

the children who live in Geelong also enjoy

living in this community.

Strategies:

• Council will continue to monitor projected

population increases; including the child

population, to ensure future infrastructure

planning and new development can

accommodate the needs of families with

young children.

• Council will utilise interdepartmental working

groups to enhance the effectiveness of

infrastructure planning, including the provision

of child and family services for families with

young children.

• Council will ensure infrastructure planning

creates spaces and places for children and

families to come together to promote increased

socialisation and a sense of community, while

supporting critical early development, health,

and learning requirements.

Planning for now and in the future

The City of Greater Geelong is a rapidly growing

municipality. Developing sustainable, cohesive and

accessible communities requires a planned approach to

the upgrade and maintenance of existing infrastructure

and the establishment of new developments. It is

imperative that all development and redevelopment

is responsive to changing community needs, priorities

and desires.

The provision of quality and accessible services

and infrastructure is crucial to enabling the City of

Greater Geelong to fulfil its vision for the municipality

and achieve it goals to improve outcomes for young

children. Families, communities and businesses need

to be confident that they will have access to the services

and infrastructure that is responsive to and adequately

supports their needs and requirements. This includes

access to child care, kindergartens, health services,

education facilities, etc.

Children in particular are sensitive to their environment

and surroundings. It is therefore important to ensure the

spaces and places created for children are conducive

to the particular needs and requirements, and reflect

the best possible quality and attributes in design and

service provision.

This requires a collaborative approach, utilising the

strengths, resources and expertise available within the

community, and in line with best practice standards. It

also requires being mindful of the needs and priorities

of families now and into the future. Feedback from

families, who completed the on-line survey as part of

the consultation process, indicates that the needs of

families, now and into the future, include access to a

full range of services and facilities. This includes parks

and playgrounds; affordable housing, and ease of

access throughout the municipality through improved

public transport, cycle ways and footpaths.

Council has a long history in the provision of early

childhood services and facilities, and continues to play

6 • Council will continue our commitment to

ensure that all children and families have

access to a quality play space within 400m

of their home, as outlined in the Geelong Play

Strategy.

• Council will develop infrastructure that

facilitates cycling and walking within the

community through quality, connected cycle

paths and walkways. This will include the

provision of cycle and pathways that allow

children, as civic citizens, to safely access

community facilities from home and school.

• Council will seek feedback from children to

ensure infrastructure planning accommodates

their interests, preferences and needs.

• Council will continue to work with key

stakeholders to address the funding and

equitable provision requirements for children’s

services and infrastructure across the

municipality.

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act d

etai

ls, p

urpo

se a

nd a

ctiv

ities

, etc

.

•A

com

plie

d lis

t of c

hild

and

fam

ily s

ervi

ce

netw

orks

is d

isse

min

ated

acr

oss

the

sect

or.

•Se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

repo

rt g

reat

link

s an

d co

nnec

tions

with

oth

er s

ervi

ce p

rovi

ders

.

Serv

ice

prov

ider

s ar

e in

form

ed o

f and

sup

port

in

itiat

ives

out

side

of t

heir

own

orga

nisa

tions

.Co

unci

l and

our

com

mun

ity p

artn

ers

will

es

tabl

ish

a fo

rmal

par

tner

ship

agr

eem

ent w

ith

loca

l net

wor

ks a

nd o

rgan

isat

ions

that

sup

port

s an

initi

ativ

e of

cro

ss p

rom

otio

nal s

trate

gies

re

late

d to

eve

nts

and

prog

ram

s.

•A

form

al p

artn

ersh

ip a

gree

men

t is

crea

ted

and

endo

rsed

by

a ra

nge

of

serv

ice

prov

ider

s.

•Se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

activ

ely

prom

oted

in

itiat

ives

of o

ther

org

anis

atio

ns.

Ensu

re th

at th

e vo

ices

and

exp

erie

nces

of

youn

g ch

ildre

n in

form

pla

nnin

g an

d de

liver

y of

pro

gram

s.

Coun

cil w

ill d

evel

op a

nd e

ndor

se c

onsu

ltatio

n pr

otoc

ols

and

proc

esse

s th

at e

nsur

e ch

ildre

n an

d yo

ung

peop

le a

re a

ctiv

ely

incl

uded

in

futu

re p

lann

ing

of p

rogr

ams,

faci

litie

s an

d ac

tiviti

es fo

r yo

ung

child

ren

and

thei

r fa

mili

es

livin

g in

the

mun

icip

ality

.

•Pr

otoc

ols

and

proc

esse

s re

late

d to

co

nsul

ting

with

chi

ldre

n ar

e cr

eate

d an

d en

dors

ed.

•Th

ere

is e

vide

nce

that

con

sulta

tion

prot

ocol

s an

d pr

oces

ses

are

used

to

info

rm p

lann

ing

of p

rogr

ams,

faci

litie

s an

d ac

tiviti

es fo

r yo

ung

child

ren

and

thei

r fa

mili

es li

ving

in th

e m

unic

ipal

ity.

Vict

oria

n Ch

ildre

n, Y

outh

and

Fam

ilies

Act 2

005

Vict

oria

n Ch

ild W

ellb

eing

and

Saf

ety

Act

2005

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

t

Stra

tegy

(20

09)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Nat

iona

l Fra

mew

ork

for

Prot

ectin

g

Aust

ralia

’s C

hild

ren

2009

-202

0

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Bui

ldin

g Ch

ild F

riend

ly

Citie

s: A

Fra

mew

ork

for

Actio

n. 2

004

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 2

8

THEM

EB

UIL

DIN

G C

OM

MU

NIT

Y

Link

s to

Pla

nsO

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

esIn

dica

tive

Mea

sure

sIn

crea

se u

se o

f com

mun

ity s

pace

s.Co

unci

l will

cre

ate

a m

unic

ipal

ity m

ap

deta

iling

chi

ld a

nd fa

mily

frie

ndly

par

ks a

nd

the

faci

litie

s w

ithin

them

. Thi

s in

form

atio

n w

ill

be m

ade

avai

labl

e to

ser

vice

pro

vide

rs a

nd

fam

ilies

.

•A

mun

icip

ality

map

det

ailin

g ch

ild a

nd

fam

ily fr

iend

ly p

arks

and

thei

r fa

cilit

ies

is

deve

lope

d an

d m

ade

avai

labl

e to

fam

ilies

an

d se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers.

Ensu

re th

at th

e vo

ices

and

exp

erie

nces

of y

oung

chi

ldre

n in

form

the

plan

ning

and

de

sign

of p

ublic

spa

ces.

Coun

cil w

ill c

onsu

lt w

ith y

oung

chi

ldre

n in

th

e pl

anni

ng a

nd d

esig

n of

pub

lic p

lace

s an

d sp

aces

that

are

wel

com

ing,

incl

usiv

e,

acce

ssib

le a

nd s

timul

atin

g. W

e w

ill u

tilis

e co

nsul

tatio

n pr

otoc

ols

esta

blis

hed

for

this

pu

rpos

e an

d pr

ovid

e su

ppor

t to

Coun

cil

pers

onne

l inv

olve

d in

thes

e in

itiat

ives

.

•Th

e co

nsul

tatio

n pr

otoc

ols

and

proc

esse

s ar

e us

ed to

info

rm th

e en

gage

men

t of

youn

g ch

ildre

n in

the

plan

ning

and

de

sign

of p

ublic

spa

ces.

Incr

ease

kno

wle

dge

of c

omm

unity

faci

litie

s

avai

labl

e ac

ross

the

mun

icip

ality

.

Coun

cil w

ill a

dvis

e of

Cou

ncil

owne

d an

d no

n-Co

unci

l ow

ned

com

mun

ity fa

cilit

ies

curr

ently

lis

ted

on th

e Co

unci

l web

site

to s

ervi

ce

prov

ider

s an

d co

mm

unity

gro

ups.

We

will

en

sure

cos

ts a

nd o

ther

rel

evan

t inf

orm

atio

n is

in

clud

ed w

here

it is

n’t c

urre

ntly

and

upd

ate

this

info

rmat

ion

regu

larly

.

•In

form

atio

n re

gard

ing

com

mun

ity

faci

litie

s is

ava

ilabl

e an

d cu

rren

t on

the

Coun

cil w

ebsi

te.

Incr

ease

the

visi

bilit

y an

d sa

fety

of c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

acr

oss

the

com

mun

ity.

Coun

cil w

ill m

aint

ain

and

enha

nce

wel

l- co

nnec

ted

wal

kway

s an

d bi

ke p

aths

to

incr

ease

the

visi

bilit

y an

d sa

fety

of y

oung

ch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es a

cros

s th

e m

unic

ipal

ity.

•A

sche

dule

of w

orks

rel

atin

g to

the

mai

nten

ance

and

enh

ance

men

t of

wal

kway

s an

d bi

ke p

aths

is e

ndor

sed

by

Coun

cil.

•Th

e w

ork

sche

dule

is c

ompl

eted

with

in

the

indi

cativ

e tim

efra

me

as o

utlin

ed.

Incr

ease

the

leve

l of a

cces

sibi

lity

to s

ervi

ces

and

faci

litie

s by

red

ucin

g th

e ba

rrie

rs

expe

rienc

ed b

y a

lack

of p

ublic

tran

spor

t.

Coun

cil w

ill a

dvoc

ate

at a

Sta

te g

over

nmen

t le

vel f

or e

ffici

ent a

nd e

ffect

ive

publ

ic tr

ansp

ort

cove

rage

and

opt

ions

acr

oss

the

mun

icip

ality

to

pro

mot

e ea

sy a

cces

s to

ser

vice

s an

d fa

cilit

ies.

•Co

unci

l has

bee

n in

volv

ed in

a n

umbe

r of

ad

voca

cy s

trate

gies

spe

cific

to in

crea

sing

th

e ef

fect

iven

ess

and

effic

ienc

y of

pub

lic

trans

port

cov

erag

e.

Cont

inue

to p

lan

for

and

prom

ote

child

and

fa

mily

frie

ndly

com

mun

ity e

vent

s to

sup

port

so

cial

cap

ital.

Coun

cil a

nd o

ur c

omm

unity

par

tner

s w

ill

cont

inue

to p

lan

for

and

prom

ote

child

and

fam

ily fr

iend

ly c

omm

unity

eve

nts

that

ce

lebr

ate

the

dive

rsity

of c

omm

unity

mem

bers

an

d pr

omot

e co

mm

unity

har

mon

y an

d co

hesi

on.

•A

rang

e of

chi

ld a

nd fa

mily

frie

ndly

co

mm

unity

eve

nts

take

pla

ce a

cros

s th

e ye

ar.

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng:

•Ci

ty P

lan

2013

-201

7•

Mun

icip

al P

ublic

Hea

lth &

Wel

lbei

ng

Plan

201

3-20

17•

Mun

icip

al C

hild

ren’

s Se

rvic

es

Infra

stru

ctur

e Pl

an 2

013-

2030

•G

eelo

ng P

lay

Stra

tegy

201

2-20

21•

Mul

ticul

tura

l Act

ion

Plan

201

1-20

14•

Dis

abili

ty A

ctio

n Pl

an 2

009-

2013

•Co

mm

unity

Saf

ety

Stra

tegy

20

10-2

013

•R

oad

Safe

ty S

trate

gy 2

012-

2017

•Ev

ents

Stra

tegy

(D

raft)

•Cy

cle

Stra

tegy

200

8•

Wal

king

and

Cyc

ling

Dev

elop

men

t G

uide

lines

200

9•

Corio

-Nor

lane

Bes

t Sta

rt S

trate

gic

Plan

•Lo

cal A

rea

Stru

ctur

e Pl

ans

•G

21 P

ublic

Tra

nspo

rt S

trate

gy

Vict

oria

n Lo

cal G

over

nmen

t Act

198

9

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

tSt

rate

gy (

2009

)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Bui

ldin

g Ch

ild F

riend

lyCi

ties:

A F

ram

ewor

k fo

r Ac

tion.

200

4

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 2

9

THEM

ESE

RV

ICES

WO

RK

ING

TO

GETH

ER

Link

s to

Pla

nsO

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

esIn

dica

tive

Mea

sure

s

To in

crea

se th

e sk

ill a

nd k

now

ledg

e ba

se o

f ch

ild a

nd fa

mily

ser

vice

s se

ctor

rel

ated

to

inte

grat

ed s

ervi

ce d

eliv

ery.

Coun

cil w

ill s

ourc

e an

d fa

cilit

ate

prof

essi

onal

de

velo

pmen

t spe

cific

to b

est p

ract

ice

inte

grat

ed s

ervi

ce d

eliv

ery

for

child

and

fam

ily

serv

ices

acr

oss

the

mun

icip

ality

.

•Pr

ofes

sion

al d

evel

opm

ent r

elat

ing

to

inte

grat

ed s

ervi

ce d

eliv

ery

is d

eliv

ered

.

To h

ave

grea

ter

inte

rdep

artm

enta

l int

egra

tion

with

in C

ounc

il.In

tern

ally

, Cou

ncil

will

uph

old

qual

ity

part

ners

hips

in th

e pr

ojec

ts a

nd a

ctiv

ities

w

e un

dert

ake

acro

ss C

ounc

il th

at s

uppo

rt

an in

tegr

ated

app

roac

h, e

.g. u

rban

pla

nner

s co

llabo

ratin

g w

ith c

hild

ren’

s se

rvic

es s

taff

rega

rdin

g de

sign

ing

child

and

fam

ily fr

iend

ly

site

s.

•A

rang

e of

par

tner

ship

initi

ativ

es a

re

evid

ence

d ac

ross

Cou

ncil.

A sh

ared

vis

ion

is u

sed

to g

uide

the

plan

ning

an

d pr

ovis

ion

of p

rogr

ams

for

child

ren

and

fam

ilies

acr

oss

out c

omm

unity

.

Coun

cil a

nd o

ur c

omm

unity

par

tner

s w

ill

use

the

MEY

P to

cre

ate

a sh

ared

vis

ion

for

the

child

and

fam

ily s

ervi

ce s

ecto

r in

to th

e fu

ture

, and

dev

elop

an

enga

gem

ent p

roce

ss to

su

ppor

t thi

s.

•A

shar

ed v

isio

n is

dev

elop

ed a

nd g

uide

s on

goin

g w

ork

acro

ss th

e se

ctor

.

To m

ake

the

supp

ort r

equi

red

by fa

mili

es m

ore

acce

ssib

le a

nd r

espo

nsiv

e.Co

unci

l and

our

com

mun

ity p

artn

ers

will

pi

lot u

nive

rsal

ref

erra

l pro

cess

es to

ens

ure

a ‘n

o w

rong

doo

r ap

proa

ch’ f

or fa

mili

es

acce

ssin

g ch

ild a

nd fa

mily

ser

vice

s ac

ross

the

mun

icip

ality

.

•A

univ

ersa

l ref

erra

l pro

cess

is d

evel

oped

an

d pi

lote

d.

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng:

•Ci

ty P

lan

2013

-201

7•

Mun

icip

al P

ublic

Hea

lth &

Wel

lbei

ng•

Plan

201

3-20

17•

Mun

icip

al C

hild

ren’

s Se

rvic

es•

Infra

stru

ctur

e Pl

an 2

013-

2030

•M

ultic

ultu

ral A

ctio

n Pl

an 2

011-

2014

•D

isab

ility

Act

ion

Plan

200

9-20

13•

Corio

-Nor

lane

Bes

t Sta

rt S

trate

gic

Plan

•Lo

cal A

rea

Stru

ctur

e Pl

ans

Vict

oria

n Lo

cal G

over

nmen

t Act

198

9

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

tSt

rate

gy (

2009

)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Bui

ldin

g Ch

ild F

riend

ly C

ities

:A

Fram

ewor

k fo

r Ac

tion.

200

4

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 3

0

THEM

EC

ELE

BR

ATIN

G D

IVER

SITY

Link

s to

Pla

nsO

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

esIn

dica

tive

Mea

sure

s

Ensu

re s

ervi

ce p

rovi

sion

is r

espo

nsiv

e to

the

cultu

ral n

eeds

and

div

ersi

ties

of c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

.

Coun

cil w

ill in

crea

se th

e cu

ltura

l com

pete

nce

and

cultu

ral a

war

enes

s of

chi

ld a

nd fa

mily

se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

thro

ugh

the

prov

isio

n of

tra

inin

g an

d re

sour

ces.

Thi

s w

ill in

clud

e th

e de

velo

pmen

t of r

esou

rces

for

serv

ice

prov

ider

s ou

tlini

ng k

ey c

onsi

dera

tions

of c

ultu

rally

re

spec

tful p

ract

ice.

•Pr

ofes

sion

al d

evel

opm

ent a

nd r

esou

rces

re

latin

g to

cul

tura

l com

pete

nce

and

cultu

ral a

war

enes

s is

mad

e av

aila

ble

to

serv

ice

prov

ider

s.

Coun

cil w

ill c

reat

e op

port

uniti

es to

invo

lve

com

mun

ity e

lder

s an

d re

pres

enta

tives

fro

m c

ultu

rally

and

ling

uist

ical

ly d

iver

se

com

mun

ities

and

Abo

rigin

al a

nd T

orre

s St

rait

Isla

nder

com

mun

ities

, in

the

plan

ning

, de

liver

y an

d re

view

of s

ervi

ces

for

fam

ilies

and

youn

g ch

ildre

n to

ens

ure

serv

ice

prov

isio

n is

cu

ltura

lly r

espe

ctfu

l and

res

pons

ive.

•Co

mm

unity

eld

ers

from

cul

tura

lly a

nd

lingu

istic

ally

div

erse

com

mun

ities

and

Ab

orig

inal

and

Tor

res

Stra

it Is

land

er

com

mun

ities

are

act

ivel

y re

crui

ted

and

invo

lved

in th

e pl

anni

ng a

nd r

evie

w o

f se

rvic

es.

Enha

nce

unde

rsta

ndin

gs o

f and

ref

lect

ing

the

dive

rsity

of o

ur c

omm

unity

.Co

unci

l and

our

com

mun

ity p

artn

ers

will

co

ntin

ue to

pla

n co

mm

unity

eve

nts

and

activ

ities

that

ref

lect

the

dive

rse

back

grou

nds,

in

tere

sts

and

prio

ritie

s of

fam

ilies

and

you

ng

child

ren.

•Co

mm

unity

eve

nts

refle

ct th

e di

vers

ity o

f th

e G

reat

er G

eelo

ng c

omm

unity

.

Ensu

re s

ervi

ce p

rovi

sion

is r

espo

nsiv

e to

the

cultu

ral n

eeds

and

div

ersi

ties

of c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

.

Coun

cil w

ill d

evel

op p

roto

cols

for

serv

ice

prov

ider

s on

how

to e

ngag

e w

ith fa

mili

es

in w

ays

that

are

res

pect

ful o

f fam

ilies

’ ba

ckgr

ound

s, h

isto

ries,

exp

erie

nces

and

pr

iorit

ies.

•Pr

otoc

ols

are

deve

lope

d an

d us

ed in

se

rvic

e pr

ovis

ion.

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng:

•Ci

ty P

lan

2013

-201

7

•M

unic

ipal

Pub

lic H

ealth

& W

ellb

eing

Pl

an 2

013-

2017

•M

ultic

ultu

ral A

ctio

n Pl

an 2

011-

2014

•D

isab

ility

Act

ion

Plan

200

9-20

13

•Co

rio-N

orla

ne B

est S

tart

Stra

tegi

c Pl

an

Dar

dee

Boo

rai:

Vict

oria

n Ch

arte

r of

Saf

ety

and

Wel

lbei

ng fo

r Ab

orig

inal

Chi

ldre

n an

d Yo

ung

Peop

le

Vict

oria

n Ch

arte

r of

Hum

an R

ight

s an

d R

espo

nsib

ilitie

s Ac

t 200

6

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

tSt

rate

gy (

2009

)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Dis

abili

ty D

iscr

imin

atio

n Ac

t 199

2

Rac

ial D

iscr

imin

atio

n Ac

t 197

5

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 3

1

THEM

EP

RO

MO

TIN

G A

HEA

LTH

Y C

OM

MU

NIT

Y

Link

s to

Pla

nsO

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

esIn

dica

tive

Mea

sure

s

Incr

ease

use

of c

omm

unity

spa

ces.

Coun

cil w

ill c

ontin

ue to

mai

ntai

n an

d up

grad

e na

tura

l spa

ces,

wal

kway

s, b

ike

path

s an

d sp

ortin

g fa

cilit

ies

to p

rovi

de o

ppor

tuni

ties

for

stru

ctur

ed a

nd u

nstru

ctur

ed p

hysi

cal a

ctiv

ity

acro

ss th

e m

unic

ipal

ity. T

his

will

incl

ude

faci

litie

s fo

r pa

rent

s an

d ot

her

fam

ily m

embe

rs

to e

ngag

e in

phy

sica

l act

ivity

toge

ther

with

th

eir

child

ren.

•A

sche

dule

of w

orks

rel

atin

g to

the

mai

nten

ance

and

enh

ance

men

t of

natu

ral s

pace

s, w

alkw

ays,

bik

e pa

ths,

an

d sp

ortin

g fa

cilit

ies

is e

ndor

sed

by

Coun

cil.

•Th

e w

ork

sche

dule

is c

ompl

eted

with

in

the

indi

cativ

e tim

efra

me

as o

utlin

ed.

Cont

inue

to p

lan

for

and

prom

ote

affo

rdab

le

child

and

fam

ily fr

iend

ly c

omm

unity

eve

nts

with

a h

ealth

and

wel

l-bei

ng fo

cus.

Coun

cil w

ill p

rovi

de a

nd p

rom

ote

affo

rdab

le

fam

ily fr

iend

ly c

omm

unity

eve

nts,

fest

ival

s an

d ac

tiviti

es th

at in

corp

orat

e a

heal

th a

nd

wel

l-bei

ng.

•A

rang

e of

chi

ld a

nd fa

mily

frie

ndly

co

mm

unity

eve

nts

take

pla

ce a

cros

s th

e ye

ar, t

o pr

omot

e he

alth

and

wel

l-bei

ng.

Incr

ease

the

num

ber

of h

ealth

and

wel

l bei

ng

initi

ativ

es fu

nded

by

Stat

e go

vern

men

t gra

nts.

Coun

cil w

ill a

dvoc

ate

at a

Sta

te g

over

nmen

t le

vel f

or in

itiat

ives

targ

etin

g he

alth

and

wel

l-be

ing

outc

omes

to b

e af

ford

ed p

riorit

y in

gr

ants

and

fund

ing

oppo

rtun

ities

.

•Co

unci

l has

bee

n in

volv

ed in

a n

umbe

r of

adv

ocac

y st

rate

gies

spe

cific

to th

e fu

ndin

g of

hea

lth a

nd w

ell-b

eing

focu

sed

initi

ativ

es.

Mak

e av

aila

ble

a gr

eate

r ra

nge

of p

ublic

sp

aces

for

child

ren

to a

cces

s.Co

unci

l will

con

tinue

to a

dvoc

ate

for

acce

ss to

sc

hool

pla

ygro

unds

out

side

of s

choo

l hou

rs, a

s ou

tline

d in

the

Gee

long

Pla

y St

rate

gy.

•Th

e nu

mbe

r of

sch

ools

allo

win

g th

eir

play

grou

nds

to b

e us

ed o

utsi

de o

f sch

ool

hour

s is

incr

ease

d.

Prom

ote

the

heal

th a

nd w

ell-b

ring

of c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

acr

oss

the

mun

icip

ality

.Co

unci

l and

our

com

mun

ity p

artn

ers

will

ac

tivel

y pa

rtic

ipat

e in

Hea

lthy

Toge

ther

Gee

long

, a V

icto

rian

Gov

ernm

ent I

nitia

tive,

to

pro

mot

e in

crea

sed

heal

th a

nd w

ell-

bein

g ou

tcom

es fo

r ch

ildre

n, fa

mili

es a

nd

com

mun

ities

.

•Ta

rget

s fo

r H

ealth

Tog

ethe

r G

eelo

ng a

re

met

by

2015

.

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng:

•Ci

ty P

lan

2013

-201

7

•M

unic

ipal

Pub

lic H

ealth

& W

ellb

eing

Plan

201

3-20

17

•M

unic

ipal

Chi

ldre

n’s

Serv

ices

Infra

stru

ctur

e Pl

an 2

013-

2030

•G

eelo

ng P

lay

Stra

tegy

201

2 -2

021

•M

ultic

ultu

ral A

ctio

n Pl

an 2

011-

2014

•Ev

ents

Stra

tegy

(D

raft)

•Co

rio-N

orla

ne B

est S

tart

Stra

tegi

c Pl

an

Vict

oria

n Lo

cal G

over

nmen

t Act

198

9

Vict

oria

n M

ater

nal a

nd C

hild

Hea

lthG

uide

lines

201

1

Vict

oria

n M

ater

nal a

nd C

hild

Hea

lth P

rogr

am

Stan

dard

s

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

t Stra

tegy

(2

009)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 3

2

THEM

EP

LAN

NIN

G F

OR

NO

W A

ND

IN

TH

E F

UTU

RE

Link

s to

Pla

nsO

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

esIn

dica

tive

Mea

sure

sFu

ture

infra

stru

ctur

e pl

anni

ng a

nd n

ew

deve

lopm

ent k

eep

pace

to th

e po

pula

tion

need

s of

fam

ilies

and

chi

ldre

n.

Coun

cil w

ill c

ontin

ue to

mon

itor

proj

ecte

d po

pula

tion

incr

ease

s; in

clud

ing

the

child

po

pula

tion,

to e

nsur

e fu

ture

infra

stru

ctur

e pl

anni

ng a

nd n

ew d

evel

opm

ent c

an

acco

mm

odat

e th

e ne

eds

of fa

mili

es w

ith

youn

g ch

ildre

n.

•Co

unci

l use

s po

pula

tion

proj

ectio

ns

spec

ific

to c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

to

info

rm in

frast

ruct

ure

plan

ning

acr

oss

the

mun

icip

ality

.

Futu

re in

frast

ruct

ure

plan

ning

and

new

de

velo

pmen

t kee

p pa

ce to

the

popu

latio

n ne

eds

of fa

mili

es a

nd c

hild

ren.

Coun

cil w

ill u

tilis

e in

terd

epar

tmen

tal w

orki

ng

grou

ps to

enh

ance

the

effe

ctiv

enes

s of

in

frast

ruct

ure

plan

ning

, inc

ludi

ng th

e pr

ovis

ion

of c

hild

and

fam

ily s

ervi

ces

for

fam

ilies

with

yo

ung

child

ren.

•In

terd

epar

tmen

tal w

orki

ng g

roup

s m

eet

with

a s

peci

fic fo

cus

on th

e pl

anni

ng

for

the

prov

isio

n of

chi

ldre

n an

d fa

mily

se

rvic

es a

cros

s th

e m

unic

ipal

ity.

Com

mun

ity s

pace

s en

hanc

e so

cial

co

nnec

tedn

ess

for

child

ren

and

fam

ilies

.Co

unci

l will

ens

ure

infra

stru

ctur

e pl

anni

ng

crea

tes

spac

es a

nd p

lace

s fo

r ch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es to

com

e to

geth

er to

pro

mot

e in

crea

sed

soci

alis

atio

n an

d a

sens

e of

com

mun

ity.

•Co

unci

l’s C

ity P

lan

mak

es r

efer

ence

to

the

enha

ncem

ent o

f soc

ial c

onne

cted

ness

fo

r ch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es th

roug

h th

e pl

anni

ng o

f pub

lic s

pace

s.

Incr

ease

the

visi

bilit

y an

d sa

fety

of c

hild

ren

and

fam

ilies

acr

oss

the

com

mun

ity.

Coun

cil w

ill c

ontin

ue o

ur c

omm

itmen

t to

ensu

re th

at a

ll ch

ildre

n an

d fa

mili

es h

ave

acce

ss to

a q

ualit

y pl

ay s

pace

with

in 4

00m

of

thei

r ho

me,

as

outli

ned

in th

e G

eelo

ng P

lay

Stra

tegy

.

•Q

ualit

y pl

ay s

pace

s ar

e av

aila

ble

with

in

400m

of f

amili

es’ h

omes

, as

outli

ned

in

the

Gee

long

Pla

y St

rate

gy.

To e

nsur

e th

at in

frast

ruct

ure

plan

ning

is

mee

ting

the

need

s of

chi

ldre

n.Co

unci

l will

dev

elop

infra

stru

ctur

e th

at

faci

litat

es c

yclin

g an

d w

alki

ng w

ithin

the

com

mun

ity th

roug

h qu

ality

, con

nect

ed c

ycle

pa

ths

and

wal

kway

s. T

his

will

incl

ude

the

prov

isio

n of

cyc

le a

nd p

athw

ays

that

allo

w

child

ren,

as

civi

c ci

tizen

s, to

saf

ely

acce

ss

com

mun

ity fa

cilit

ies

from

hom

e an

d sc

hool

.

•Co

unci

l’s C

ity P

lan

mak

es r

efer

ence

to

the

deve

lopm

ent a

nd m

aint

enan

ce

of q

ualit

y, c

onne

cted

cyc

le p

aths

and

w

alkw

ays

acro

ss th

e m

unic

ipal

ity.

Cont

inue

to p

lan

for

and

prom

ote

child

and

fa

mily

frie

ndly

com

mun

ity e

vent

s to

sup

port

so

cial

cap

ital.

Coun

cil w

ill s

eek

feed

back

from

chi

ldre

n to

en

sure

infra

stru

ctur

e pl

anni

ng a

ccom

mod

ates

th

eir

inte

rest

s, p

refe

renc

es a

nd n

eeds

.

•Th

e co

nsul

tatio

n pr

otoc

ols

and

proc

esse

s ar

e us

ed to

see

k fe

edba

ck fr

om c

hild

ren

rega

rdin

g in

frast

ruct

ure

plan

ning

.

Coun

cil w

ill c

ontin

ue to

wor

k w

ith k

ey

stak

ehol

ders

to a

ddre

ss th

e fu

ndin

g an

d eq

uita

ble

prov

isio

n re

quire

men

ts fo

r ch

ildre

n’s

serv

ices

and

infra

stru

ctur

e aa

cros

s th

e m

unic

ipal

ity.

•Ex

tent

of f

undi

ng p

rovi

ded

and

num

ber

of

new

or

refu

rbis

hed

faci

litie

s pr

ovid

ed.

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng:

•Ci

ty P

lan

2013

-201

7•

Mun

icip

al P

ublic

Hea

lth &

Wel

lbei

ng

Plan

201

3-20

17•

Mun

icip

al C

hild

ren’

s Se

rvic

es

Infra

stru

ctur

e Pl

an 2

013-

2030

•G

eelo

ng P

lay

Stra

tegy

201

2-20

21•

Mul

ticul

tura

l Act

ion

Plan

201

1-20

14•

Even

ts S

trate

gy (

Dra

ft)•

Corio

-Nor

lane

Bes

t Sta

rt S

trate

gic

Plan

Vict

oria

n Lo

cal G

over

nmen

t Act

198

9

Vict

oria

n M

ater

nal a

nd C

hild

Hea

lthG

uide

lines

201

1

Vict

oria

n M

ater

nal a

nd C

hild

Hea

lthPr

ogra

m S

tand

ards

Nat

iona

l Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Dev

elop

men

tSt

rate

gy (

2009

)

Nat

iona

l Edu

catio

n an

d Ca

re S

ervi

ces

Law

and

Reg

ulat

ions

(20

11)

Uni

ted

Nat

ions

Con

vent

ion

on th

e R

ight

s of

the

Child

199

8

City

of G

reat

er G

eelo

ng: M

unic

ipal

Ear

ly Y

ears

Pla

n 20

13-2

017

// 3

3


AppendicesAECQA Australian Education & Care Quality Authority

AEDI Australian Early Development Index

CALD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background

CCB Child Care Benefit

CFC Child Friendly Cities

COAG Council of Australian Governments

CoGG City of Greater Geelong

DEECD Department Education and Early Childhood Development

DEEWR Department Education, Employment and Workforce Relations

ECS Early Childhood Services

ECIS Early Childhood Intervention Services

ESK Early Start Kindergarten

FDC Family Day Care

GKA Geelong Kindergarten Association

KAS Key Ages and Stages

KCM Kindergarten Cluster Management

LDC Long Day Care

LGA Local Government Area

MAV Municipal Association of Victoria

MCH Maternal and Child Health

MEYP Municipal Early Years Plan

MCSIP Municipal Children’s Services Infrastructure Plan

NQS National Quality Standards

OCC Occasional Child Care

OSHC Outside School Hours Care

SEIFA Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas

UAECE Universal Access to Early Care and Education

UN United Nations

VEYLDF Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework

APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF TERMS


A risk factor is usually defined as a factor that increases the likelihood of a future negative outcome for a child.

A protective factor is a variable that decreases such a probability and act as a buffer against the effects of risk

factors. Risk and protective factors can be broadly grouped using the ecological model referred to previously as

follows:31

Ecological level Protective factors Risk factors

Child • Social skills

• Attachment to family

• Independence

• Delayed development

• Difficult temperament

Immediate family and household • Competent and stable care

• Breastfeeding

• Adequate family income and

housing

• Lack of warmth and affection

• Physical or mental illness

• Family instability, conflict or

violence

Kinship and internal networks • Positive supportive

relationships with extended

family, friends and neighbours

• Cultural and faith-based

networks

• Isolation

• Absence of peer and social

supports

Community environments,

networks and formal services

• Positive supportive

relationships with teachers

and community professionals

• Participation in community

activities

• Access/availability of

community services

• Freedom from discrimination

• Inadequate housing

• Socio-economic disadvantage

Broader economic, policy,

political, social and environmental

influences

• Child and family friendly

public policies

• High quality universal

programs

• Environmental conditions

• Unstable economic conditions

APPENDIX 2: PROTECTIVE AND RISK FACTORS

31 http://userguide.aedi.org.au/Understanding/What-influences-children-s-development/Risk-protective-factors-for-early-child- developmen.aspx.

Australian Early Development Index [AEDI] (2012) Greater Geelong Community. Victoria.

Australian Government Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations [DEEWR]. (2009). Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development.

Cassells, R., Toohey, M., Keegan, M. & Mohanty, I. (2013). ‘Modern Family: The changing shape of Australian families’, AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth Report Issue 34, October.

City of Greater Geelong City Plan (2013 – 2017).

City of Greater Geelong Multicultural Action Plan. (2011-2014).

Census QuickStats Greater Geelong (2011).

Department for Education and Skills (2001). Learning to Listen: Core Principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People.

Department for Education and Skills (2003). Building a Culture of Participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation.

Forecast.id. (2013). Age structure. City of Greater Geelong.

Forecast.id. (2013). Population forecasts. City of Greater Geelong.

G21 Geelong Region Alliance. (2011). Growing up in G21 – The Health and Wellbeing of Children 0–8 Years in the G21 Region.

G21 Regional Growth Plan (2012). Regional Growth Plan Background Report, August 2012.

Grunewald, R. & Rolnick, A. J. (2005). Early Childhood Development on a large scale: A proposal. The Region, 19(2), 13-17.

Heckman, J. J., Moon, S. H., Pinto, R., Savelyev, P. A. & Yavitz, A. (2010). The rate of return to the HighScope Perry Preschool Program. Journal of Public Economics, 94, 114-128.

Keast, R., Brown, K. & Mandell, M. (2007). Getting the Right Mix: Unpacking Integration Meanings and Strategies. International Public Management Journal, 10(1), 9-33.

APPENDIX 3: REFERENCES

Maternal & Child Health Birth Notifications in City of Greater Geelong. May 2003 to April 2013. Data provided by City of Greater Geelong.

Moore, T. (2008). Evaluation of Victorian children’s centres: Literature review. Prepared by Centre for Community Child Health For the Office for Children and Early Childhood Development Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Melbourne.

Municipal Association of Victoria. (2011). Municipal Early Years Planning Framework and Practical Resource Guide. A project between the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Ancestry.

profile.id community profile (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Five year age groups.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Households summary.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Migration summary.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Need for assistance.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Population, households and dwellings.

profile.id community profile. (2012). City of Greater Geelong. Proficiency in English.

Sayers, M. (2012) Integrated Approaches to Service Delivery. Presentation at Palmerston Indigenous Child and Family Hub Think Tank, Sydney.

United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF]. (2009). Child friendly cities.

United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF]. (2004). Building child friendly cities: A framework for action.


The following identifies a range of key Commonwealth and Victorian Government target and policy priorities for

early childhood including those referred to in the City of Greater Geelong: City Plan 2013-2017. A number of

measures have been identified under each priority which will allow us to monitor our progress. These measures

are categorised as follows:

Key Type of measure

D Direct – Council has a direct influence on the measure result

I Influence – Council has an influence on the measure result but other external factors outside our control also impact it

M Monitor – Council has no influence on the measure result but monitors it toassist in future planning

Key Target Indicator Source Target Rate Type ofMeasure

Increase MCH participation rates in later (4 month visit>) key ages and stages (KAS) consultations

MCH Service Guidelines 2011(Section 9.1, pg 29)

Increase by 5% I

Percentage of children who attend 3.5 year old MCH consultation

City Plan 2013-2017 Meet or exceed Victorian average – 64.4%

I

Halve the existing gap betweenIndigenous and non-Indigenous children in participation in MCH (KAS) visits

Maternal and Child Health Service Guidelines (page 63)

Increase the rate of Indigenous KAS participation to the average universal rate for Greater Geelong

I

Percentage of infants fully breast fed at six months of age

City Plan 2013-2017VCAMS

Meet or exceed Victorian average – 34.8%

M

Increase the rate of immunization amongst young children across each cohort group

VCAMS Meet or exceed Victorian average M

Indigenous children attend a quality early childhood education program in the year before they start school

National Partnership Agreement on UAECE

90% of Indigenous children enrolled in 4 year old

kindergarten program

I

All children enrolled in quality early childhood education program in the year before they start school

National Partnership Agreement on UAECE

95% of children enrolled in 4 year old kindergarten program

I

APPENDIX 4: EARLY CHILDHOOD TARGET MEASURES

Key Target Indicator Source Target Rate Type ofMeasure

Reduce the percentage of children developmental vulnerable against the AEDI benchmarks

AEDI Community Profile(every 3 years)

Current rate 18.8% on one or more domains and 9.3% on two or more domains

I

Increase percentage of students achieving national minimum standards – NAPLAN Reading

National Assessment Program –Literacy and Numeracy (ACARA)

Current rate 95.07% for Greater Geelong

M

Increase percentage of students achieving national minimum standards – NAPLAN Numeracy

National Assessment Program –Literacy and Numeracy (ACARA)

Current rate 94.55% Greater Geelong

M

Early childhood services rated asmeeting (or exceeding) the NQSassessment

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

100% M

Number of long day care centres enrolled in the Victorian Prevention and Health Promotion Achievement Program

City Plan 2013-2017 40% of long day care centres

within the municipality

D

Number of kindergartens enrolled in the Victorian Prevention and Health Promotion Achievement Program

City Plan 2013-2017 40% of kindergartens within

the municipality

D

Number of primary schools enrolled in the Victorian Prevention and Health Promotion Achievement Program

City Plan 2013-2017 40% of Primary Schools within the municipality

D

The Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring System (VCAMS) provides a comprehensive overview of the way

in which the service system, the community and the family all interact to determine the wellbeing of children,

and provides a sound basis for government planning and intervention, and the range of data indicators commonly

employed to measures outcomes.


Safe, healthy child, learning developing achieving wellbeing

Confi

dent and capable families

St

rong a

nd supportive communities

Enabling society

FAMILIES• Healthy adult lifestyle

• Parent promotion of child health and development

• Good parental mental health

• Free from abuse and neglect

• Free from child exposure to conflict or family violence

• Ability to pay for essentials

• Adequate family housing

• Positive family functioning

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE• Optimal antennal/infant development

• Optimal physical health - Adequate nutrition - Free from preventable disease - Healthy teeth and gums - Healthy weight - Adequate exercise and physical activity

- Healthy teenage lifestyle - Safe from injury and harm

• Optimal social and emotional development - Positive child behaviour

and mental health - Pro-social teenage

lifestyle andlaw-abidingbehaviour

- Teenagersable to rely onsupportiveadults

• Optimallanguage andcognitivedevelopment - Successful inliteracy andnumeracy

- Young people completesecondary education

SOCIETY• Quality antenatal

care

• Early identificationof child health needs

• High quality early educationand care experiences available

• Adequate supports to meet needs of families with children with a

disability

• Children attend and enjoy school

• Adult health and community services that meet the needs of

parents critical to parenting

• Adequate supports for vulnerable teenagers

COMMUNITY• Safe from environmental toxins

• Communities that enable parents, children and young people to build connections draw on informal assistance

• Accessible local recreation spaces, activities and community facilities

• Low levels o crime in community

City of Greater Geelong City Plan (2013 – 2017)

Children’s Services Policy Statement (2012)

Community Consultation Plan (2008)

Disability Action Plan (2009 - 2013)

Geelong Community Youth Strategy (2012)

Geelong Health and Wellbeing Plan (2013 - 2017)

Geelong Play Strategy (2012 - 2021)

Indigenous Statement of Recognition & Commitment (2009)

Local Area Structure Plans

Local Government Act (1989)

Multicultural Action Plan (2011 - 2014)

Municipal Asset Management Plan

Municipal Children’s Infrastructure Plan 2013-2030 (Draft)

Karreenga Aboriginal Action Plan (in draft)

Corio-Norlane Best Start Strategic Plan (2013 – 2017) and Action Plan (2013 – 2014)

APPENDIX 5: RELEVANT COUNCIL POLICIES & STRATEGIES

CITY OF GREATER GEELONGPO BOX 104

GEELONG 3220 VICTORIAGENERAL ENQUIRIES

03 5272 [email protected]

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG MUNICIPAL EARLY YEARS … · The City of Greater Geelong is committed to the development of positive and healthy home and community environments that support

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