2007 Early Years Awards - Winners
Better access to child and family support, health services and early education
Laverton Community Children's Centre
A great start for the children in our community
Laverton Community Children's Centre developed out of an identified community need and is a multi care service providing a range of flexible, affordable and accessible care. Services are diverse and include long day care, four-year-old kindergarten program, alternative care, toy library, community space, family support services and supported culturally and linguistically diverse playgroups.
Opportunities are provided for children and families to flourish and to feel valued as individuals and to become connected with their community.
Improvements in parent's capacity, confidence and enjoyment of family
Yooralla
" What about the Dads!" - Supported playgroups for fathers of children with a disability
Yooralla offers supported playgroups for dads which helps dads with strengthening relationships, learning more about their child's developmental needs and provides an opportunity for dads in similar situations to meet on an informal basis. The programs are designed to provide a variety of activities including time for free play, music and story group times and community experiences.
This initiative is responsive to the needs of families they support by offering a service at a convenient time for dads.
Communities that are more family and child friendly
City of Greater Bendigo
Bendigo's Child Friendly City
The City of Greater Bendigo continues to build a child and family friendly community and maintain the worldwide recognition from UNICEF and UNESCO as Australia's first recognised Child Friendly City. Recent focus has been on promoting the importance of children as active participants in civic life and has included consultations with children to find out what is important to them, a children's art competition to find out what makes a child friendly street, media campaign and education forums for professionals and the community.