In The Field
Proactive community group uses AEDC data to focus on helping all children to start strong
Freya Lucas
Mar 16, 2023
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A group of proactive community members in Queensland are committed to supporting children to have a strong start to life, guided by findings from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
The AEDC is a national data collection that takes place every three years, with the next collection to take place in 2024. The results help communities look at ways to support families in the early years, as well as be responsive and inclusive of all children as they go through school.Almost one in three children in the Queensland community of South Burnett start school developmentally vulnerable, compared with one in four children in Queensland. This is a statistic that the group is determined to change through the voice of local communities in how to support families.
South Burnett Partnerships 4 Kids was formed in 2017, and is led by Cr Danita Potter, Jacqui Groskopf (South Burnett CTC) and Peta Clarkson (Goodstart Early Learning Kingaroy).
During a recent meeting, the South Burnett Regional Council, Queensland Health and the Department of Education looked at the most recent local AEDC results that showed an increase in vulnerability in children’s development prior to school.
Throughout March and April, the South Burnett Regional Council and the South Burnett Partnerships 4 Kids will be hosting community forums to discuss how to help South Burnett children reach their potential.
Cr Potter has been involved with the planning of the forums and hopes that community uptake will be high “for the sake of our children’s future”.
The forums will be held from 6-7pm (with meet and greet from 5.30pm):
- Murgon Town Hall, 20 March 2023: register here
- Nanango Cultural Centre, 21 March 2023: register here
- Wondai Town Hall, 18 April 2023: register here
- Blackbutt State School Hall, 19 April 2023: register here
- Kingaroy Town Hall, 20 April 2023: register here
For more information, contact Cr Danita Potter on 0409 490 175 or div3@sbrc.qld.gov.au
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