Policy
WA announces new plan to deliver better early childhood outcomes for Armadale West
Freya Lucas
Mar 27, 2023
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An Early Years Community Plan (EYCP) has been announced in Western Australia, designed specifically for the children and families in the area of Armadale West, in partnership with the State Government and the Minderoo Foundation.
"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,” explained Sabine Winton, WA’s Early Childhood Education Minister.Focused on improving outcomes in child development, family safety, maternal health and financial wellbeing, the plan is a 10-year commitment which has the ultimate aim of achieving better developmental outcomes and improving school readiness for children aged from birth to four years of age across four communities, including Armadale West where more than one in four children are considered developmentally vulnerable. The plan was developed following extensive consultation with the local community and service providers, and identifies four key areas to support child wellbeing and school readiness, namely:
- Child development
- Family safety
- Maternal health
- Financial wellbeing.
"The Early Years Partnership is about listening to local families. We know they are best placed to understand the needs of their children and the community,” added Armadale MLA Tony Buti. "It's great to see the Armadale community come together to provide valuable and localised input into this Plan, which will help to identify how services can be improved and how children and families can be better supported.” "Importantly, the consultation process also listened to and took on the feedback of Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse families, as children from these backgrounds make up nearly 20 per cent of children in the area."
A local working group, which includes representatives from the Department of Communities, Health and Education, the City of Armadale, three local primary schools, and other local service providers, will support the plan’s implementation.
The Armadale West community captures the school catchment zones for Challis Community Primary School, Neerigen Brook Primary School and Willandra Primary School, as well as families who use services through the Westfield Park Child and Parent Centre. Work continues on the remaining three Community Plans for Derby, Central Great Southern (comprising the shires of Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup and Broomehill-Tambellup) and Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community.
"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,” said Minderoo Foundation's 'Thrive by Five' Director Jay Weatherill. For more information and to read the EYP Armadale West Community Plan, visit the WA Government website.
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