Our Friends of By Five group met this month to enjoy a cuppa and talk all things early years. Hannah and Cara shared the great work they are doing around thriving communities, and their current focus on the challenges of shifting ‘mental models’ around kids and families in our communities.

Cara and Hannah spent a few days in Melbourne this week at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Centre for Community Child Health, meeting with colleagues new and old with a jam-packed itinerary!

Cara and Emily were incredibly grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to chat with Josh from the The Just Be Nice Project before his talk in Horsham.

Small actions can have a big impact on a child’s day, and their happiness. By Five have partnered with local schools and kinders to hear from children, what does kindness mean to them?

Many of us will have driven or visited our hometowns over the Christmas and New Year break and for those who have been ‘home’ we can probably see firsthand the changes over time; some are fabulous and others, particularly population decline, are particularly more notable.

How often do you find yourself passing judgement on other parents, children or people in general - either outwardly or mentally? Perhaps more often than we care to admit?

We are blown away by the response to the Children’s Week Street Art Gallery across the Wimmera Southern Mallee and we want to thank EVERYONE who got involved for such an important week.

To celebrate Children’s Week this year, By Five in partnership with West Wimmera Shire, Hindmarsh Shire, Yarriambiack Shire, Northern Grampians Shire and Horsham Rural City, are creating ‘Street Art Galleries’ around our towns by showcasing children’s artwork in local business windows.

‘Legends for Little Locals’ are individuals, groups or places in our community who positively impact the lives of children, and we want to share their stories to inspire others to emulate this goodwill.