July & August 2023
It is always energising to come across like-minded people. People who are not only passionate about children and families, but genuinely invested in improving rural communities for the benefit of all.
Critical thinkers who put people at the centre of their work and commit to supporting the best outcomes for that individual. Over the past few months, we have met some of these people; North Central LLEN as we discuss rural ECEC, Hands up Mallee and their passion for genuine place-based approaches and Sunraysia Community Health and their inspiring plans for a new and improved Family & Child Hub, along with National meetings with Thrive By Five where we consider the big picture of how all our efforts co-ordinate across Australia.
There is a lot of discussion Nationally about Integrated Child and Family Centres, which are designed to support children and families to get what they need where they need it. When identifying the underpinning elements, our communities have the opportunity to achieve these impacts even without new builds. Holistic responses which identify and support a child’s learning and developmental needs, services that work with families around broader issues, can link in with other providers and provide a safe space for families to socialise and build connections.
The talented Team have also launched our very own By Five Website, which is a fresh approach to all the activities of By Five, so please take a look and provide any feedback – good, bad or otherwise!
News
Legends for Little Locals
‘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.
Paediatric Update
By Five commissioned the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) to evaluate the paediatric work we have been undertaking over the past two years.
Rural Maternity Care
It is great to hear conversations taking place regarding how safe, quality maternity care can be delivered in a rural setting with women and families at the center.
Childcare for Rural Communities
Being able to access childcare in rural communities, shouldn’t be about luck or viability.
Around the Region
Children’s Week is a national celebration that recognises the talents, skills, achievements, and rights of all children. Held from October 21st-29th with thousands of Victorian children taking part in festivities across our state.
This year, members from Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire, West Wimmera Shire, Yarriambiack Shire, and By Five Early Years Initiative, have brought their ideas and communities together to celebrate Children’s Week with a coordinated approach. The regions little Picassos will be creating beautiful artwork, which will then be displayed in business windows creating a ‘Street Gallery’ in each town.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for our region to come together and celebrate our youngest community members and what it means to be a child.
We invite all businesses in the Wimmera Southern Mallee to be part of this heartwarming project, and to help us work towards our region being a great place for children to grow and thrive.
If you would love to be involved, please register your interest via the button below.
