By Five Early Years Innovation Hub given $2.8m to test new ideas for children

An innovative early years project in Victoria’s Wimmera region will benefit from $2.8 million in Government funding over the next four years. 

The By Five Early Years Innovation Hub aims to become a “one stop shop” of key service providers, experts and community groups working together to collaborate on new ways to enhance learning outcomes for local children.

Hub participants will test new ideas and map a more streamlined system for children as they move from parent to child health services, childcare and kinder in a place-based initiative that focuses on the six local government areas of Horsham, Northern Grampians, Buloke, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera. 

The initiative was first put forward by the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership, after local communities identified a need to improve early years’ service delivery in communities that are often small and dispersed. The Victorian Government’s support has enabled the project to transition to an Early Years Innovation Hub with the support of the Wimmera Development Association ─ bringing together health, education and social services including early years, education and community health. 

“By Five is the best example I can think of where a local community has identified a complex problem, designed a solution and then worked with the Government to make real change happen. I congratulate everyone involved in its success,” said Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford.

Victoria’s Department of Education has been working closely with the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership since 2018, along with the Department of Health and Regional Development Victoria to support By Five. More than $1 million has been previously provided to help coordinate the project and to engage the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. 

Further information about the Innovation Hub is available here.