Community plan will improve wellbeing of children in Derby, Mowanjum and Pandanus Park

Children and families living in the Kimberley communities of Derby, Mowanjum, and Pandanus Park, Western Australia will benefit from an Early Years Partnership (EYP) Community Plan – a 10-year agreement between the State Government and Minderoo Foundation to improve the wellbeing and school readiness of children under five years of age. 

These plans have been developed in consultation with citizens in Derby, Bidyadanga, Armadale EYP initiative, in conjunction with service providers, the Department of Communities, WA Health and Education, the Telethon Kids Institute and the Minderoo Foundation, with the strong local leadership of Ngunga Group Women’s Aboriginal Corporation.

“Children and families in remote communities like Derby face very different challenges to those in the city, and that is why the EYP with its tailored approach is so important in achieving good outcomes,” said Member for Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna.

“I applaud the Ngunga Group Women’s Aboriginal Corporation and the Derby community which has shown strong local leadership and provided invaluable input into the co-design of this community plan.

“By building strong foundations in the early years, we are supporting a brighter future for our children, and I’m pleased Derby families will have the opportunity to benefit from this partnership, which is already delivering positive change in other partner communities.”

The partnership is particularly beneficial for families in Derby, where more than half of all children are considered developmentally vulnerable at the time of starting school.

“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 WA families and communities,” said Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill.

WA Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton was in Derby earlier this week to launch the ‘Wirriya Dunyji Ooba Babanil Ingun‘ (happy strong small children) EYP for children in Derby, Mowanjum and Pandanus Park.

The plan forms a roadmap for change for children living in the region and is underpinned by the importance of culture and language.

The communities of Derby, Mowanjum and Pandanus Park identified seven priority areas, namely: 

• Child health 
• Child development 
• Parent health and wellbeing 
• Family safety 
• Family financial wellbeing 
• Community service aspects
• Community physical and social aspects.

“I am very proud that the EYP has been launched in Derby, Mowanjum and Pandanus Park,” said Minderoo Foundation’s Nicola Forrest AO.

“I am particularly grateful to the leaders in each community who have led the development of plans that recognise their community’s unique needs. We hope this community-led, place-based approach will have lasting impacts on the lives of local children and families.”

The EYP has also partnered with the communities of Bidyadanga, Armadale West and Central Great Southern (comprising the Shires of Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, and Broomehill-Tambellup).

Read the EYP Derby Community Plan here.