- Children and families in the Kimberley community of Bidyadanga to benefit from Early Years Partnership (EYP) Community Plan
- The EYP is a 10-year agreement between the State Government and Minderoo Foundation to improve the wellbeing and school readiness of WA children under five
- Community Plans have been co-designed with the Bidyadanga, Derby, Armadale West and Central Great Southern communities
A community plan which aims to improve the wellbeing of children living in the remote Aboriginal community of Bidyadanga, 180km south of Broome, has been released today as part of the Early Years Partnership (EYP).
The EYP is a 10-year partnership between the State Government and Minderoo Foundation. It aims to improve school readiness for children aged 0-4 years across four Western Australian communities, including Bidyadanga, where nearly one in two children are considered developmentally vulnerable at the time of starting school.
Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton was in Bidyadanga today to launch the ‘Yija Tili’ (True Sparks) Early Years Community Plan. Yesterday, she visited Derby to launch the Wirriya Dunyji Ooba Babanil Ingun’ (Happy Strong Small Children) Early Years Community Plan for children in Derby, and the nearby communities of Mowanjum and Pandanus Park.
The plan has been co-designed with local families, community members and service providers with the departments of Communities, WA Health and Education, Telethon Kids Institute and Minderoo Foundation with the strong local leadership of Bidyadanga Aboriginal Corporation La Grange Inc.
It forms a roadmap for change for children living in the region and is underpinned by the importance of culture and language in child wellbeing.
The Bidyadanga community identified five priority areas to support child wellbeing and school readiness. These are child development, parent health, family financial wellbeing, community physical and social aspects, and community service aspects.
The Early Years Partnership has also partnered with the communities of Armadale West, Central Great Southern (comprising the Shires of Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, and Broomehill-Tambellup), as well as Derby.
Read the EYP Bidyadanga Community Plan here
As stated by Early Childhood Education and Community Services Minister Sabine Winton:
“The first five years of a child’s life are critical for positive life outcomes. It is during this time that they build the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and wellbeing.
“The Early Years Partnership is a unique collaboration between the State Government and Minderoo Foundation, that promotes new ways of working to achieve great results for children, families and the wider community.
“The State Government acknowledges the generous support of Minderoo Foundation, as well as the local leadership and advocacy of the Bidyadanga community, the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Corporation La Grange Inc. Council and staff.”
Comments attributed to Minderoo Foundation’s Nicola Forrest AO:
“I am very proud that the Early Years Partnership has been launched in Bidyadanga.
“I am particularly grateful to the leaders in each community who have led the development of plans that recognise their community’s unique needs.Wehope this community-led, place-based approach will have lasting impacts on the lives of local children and families.
“Minderoo Foundation’s unique partnership with the State Government aims to demonstrate what can be achieved for children and families, not just in the Early Years Partnership communities, but across WA and nationally – so that all Australian children get the best possible start in life.”
As stated by Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill:
“We are incredibly proud to work alongside the Western Australian Government in this unique partnership between philanthropy and government that is designed to do new things in new ways to support the development of children across WA.
“A crucial part of the Early Years Partnership is involving local communities in the design and delivery of those services to ensure they get the services that their communities need.
“This 10-year commitment across four sites in WA showcases how a place-based, community-led and innovative model using the best available research and evidence can demonstrate better ways to support children and families and gives us knowledge to benefit all Western Australian families and communities.”
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“The Early Years Partnership has a tailored approach, which is so important because we know children in Bidyadanga face their own unique set of challenges.
“This crucial support in the early years will give these children the best possible start. We’ve seen positive results in other communities and it’s great that Bidyadanga families will have the opportunity to see the benefits.”
“I’d like to acknowledge the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Corporation La Grange Inc. and the local families and servicesin the Bidyadanga community for all the hard work on this plan – which will help give local children a brighter future.”
