Ensuring our community has the services and infrastructure it needs to create a thriving early years community into the future is the focus of a report endorsed by Central Goldfields Shire Council at a Meeting of Council last week (26/09).
The Central Goldfields Early Years Masterplan was developed with $150,000 in funding through the Victorian Government’s Building Blocks Planning Grant program to help Council understand and plan for community needs.
Planning for the future of early years also became a higher priority with the Victorian Government’s announcement that the Central Goldfields is scheduled to transition to 30 hours of free 4-year-old kindergarten by 2027. The Early Years Infrastructure Masterplan is a report that outlines resources and investment required to meet increasing requirements of the Victorian Government early years policy agenda.
Assessment of the Shire’s existing kindergarten programs and physical assets demonstrate that kindergarten is under-supplied and that infrastructure is aged. It highlights the high level of unmet needs of children and families and the gap in accessible health and support services.
The Masterplan provides Council with a shovel-ready early years education infrastructure plan that will provide a basis for funding applications and recommends a rethink of how infrastructure can be conceptualised and developed to create better conditions to support families – particularly vulnerable families.
Drawing on the extensive consultation and advocacy by Go Goldfields through the Every Child, Every Chance initiative, the Masterplan maps out a hub and spoke method for delivering integrated services across the Shire.
It proposes the development of a new integrated hub that provides a ‘one stop shop’ for families seeking support, information, social connection, maternal and child health, allied health, childcare, kinder and other services.
In addition to the ‘Hub’ it recommends a series of spoke sites to be distributed across the Shire, each offering a minimum of two kinder rooms along with space for allied health professionals and visiting services.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Grace La Vella said the masterplan was a critical step forward in not only ensuring our Shire can accommodate the Victorian Government’s kindergarten changes but to ensuring our early years services can meet the needs of our community.
“This is a detailed report that was informed by our community. In addition to listening to the needs and wants of our local families a series of interviews were also conducted with early years education providers, primary school principals and early years practitioners.
“A Masterplan Advisory Committee was also formed during its development – this included representation from Maryborough District Health Service (including Koori Engagement and Support Officer, Goldfields Family Centre, Roseberry House, Y Ballarat, Maryborough Education Centre Specialist School – Beckworth, Maternal and Child Health, Department of Education, local Primary School principals and Go Goldfields.
“Whilst still early days in a staged approach to future development, the Masterplan provides comprehensive and well evidenced recommendations. This will support our advocacy to government for the funding needed to improve the existing infrastructure – and to develop the hub.
“We know our kindergartens are much loved and valued by our community – and they carry a lot of history for local families – rest assured families will continue to be consulted with through the next stages.
“Congratulations and thank you to Go Goldfields for their leadership and great work in this space for many years – this masterplan is the next critical step to extend on this journey and to ensure our Shire’s youngest residents have every chance to grow up safe, healthy and confident.”
Manager Go Goldfields Carolyn Bartholomeusz said the endorsement of the Masterplan is a significant step forward in supporting increased opportunities for local children and families.
“This renewal and new development recommended in the Masterplan will contribute to the local social and economic wellbeing and grow Central Goldfields as a supportive place for families and children to prosper.
“Importantly the recommendations in the Masterplan are underpinned by the latest academic research and comprehensive local engagement to best support children and families.
“The integrated Hub builds on the success of Go Goldfields collaborative project The Nest that offers a safe and welcoming place for parents and carers to come together to access programs, information, and social connection.”
Executive Manager, Children’s Services Y Ballarat Vicki Dobson said Y Kinders is excited to see the release of the Central Goldfields Early Years Masterplan.
“Central Goldfields Shire has shown it strong commitment over the years to supporting its youngest citizens in having the best start to life possible, with strong support for the early years program providers operating in the area. To see the ongoing investment in infrastructure, educators and support for families for 3 & 4yo kindergarten is very uplifting.”
Council will now undertake further investigative work to determine the most appropriate location for the Early Years Hub.
To read a copy of the Central Goldfields Early Years Masterplan
