Best Start
Best Start is a prevention and early intervention program that aims to improve the health, development, learning and wellbeing of all Victorian children from birth through to transition to school. There is a particular focus on children experiencing vulnerability and all Aboriginal children.
Outcomes
- Children engage and participate in early childhood education (kindergarten and Supported playgroups) and enter school as confident and involved learners
- Children and families actively engage with MCH services, attending key ages and stages visits to optimise health, wellbeing, safety, learning and development
Partnerships
Best Start is based on formal partnerships of local agencies and service providers that use local data and community knowledge to identify those who are experiencing vulnerability and plan, deliver and monitor evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes for children. Best Start Partnerships lead reform at the local level. They play a key role in bringing local services together to deliver on the Best Start outcomes for children and their families, in particular those with the greatest needs.
Child and Family Partnership
The Best Start formal partnership of local agencies and service providers in the City of Greater Dandenong is called the Child and Family Partnership. The partnership is made up of approximately 40 community partner organisations who work either directly with children or with their families. Being a member on the partnership involves the following collaboration opportunities:
- Bi-monthly partnership meetings (Six meeting per year)
- Small group focused work on emerging issues (scheduled as needed)
- Sharing of information, networking, and training opportunities across the partnership
- Contribution to local data collection, and then local and regional data and research is shared across the partnership
- Opportunity to provide feedback to local community partners
The Child and Family partnership welcomes new members at any time. If you are an organisation that helps support children and families or if you are a parent living in the City of Greater Dandenong and would like to be involved, please contact Customer Service on 8571 1000 or via email ChildrenServAdminSupport@cgd.vic.gov.au.
For more information visit the Department of Education and Training - Best Start
VicHealth Local Government Partnership Project
Children and Young People Leading Healthier Communities
Greater Dandenong City Council has partnered with VicHealth on a three-year project to create communities where children and young people grow up active, socially connected and healthy.
Greater Dandenong is home to approximately 55,000 young people aged 0-25 years, representing 31 percent of our population which is projected to increase to 66,500 by 2030.
Local research shows many children and young people in Greater Dandenong experience several barriers to practising healthy lifestyles.
- Only 1.5 per cent of residents eat the recommended amount of vegetables per day
- Only 38 per cent of residents eat the recommended amount of fruit per day
- 7 per cent of residents have low rates of physical activity, three times the Victorian average
- 53 per cent of adolescents lack positive psychological development
The VicHealth partnership will strengthen Council to work closely with local children and young people to understand, identify and prioritise actions that will drive positive change for better physical and mental health.
Where can I learn more about the project?
To learn more about the partnership with VicHealth visit the VicHealth website.
For further information about how to get involved, email the Children’s Services Partnerships Team at ChildrenServAdminSupport@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Where can I learn more about what Council is already doing in this space?
Read further information in Council's:
