A spotlight on early years services for Baw Baw’s youngest residents

Council’s renowned Family and Children Services Team has been recognised for the invaluable and ongoing work in developing programs and initiatives to support early years development for children and families in Baw Baw Shire.  

A recent progress update on Baw Baw Shire Council’s Municipal Early Years Plan has outlined a series of notable achievements over the course of the 2022, which includes but not limited to:  

• Partnering with local early years educators to deliver the Paint the Town REaD initiative. The free expo provided families and carers in Baw Baw Shire to explore fun and interactive activities that support literacy development in children.  
• Welcoming the opening of a new kindergarten space at Drouin West Primary School. A project that was delivered in partnership with the Victorian School Building Authority, the new facility provides 132 new kinder spaces to accommodate for the growing number families in Baw Baw Shire.  
• Developing the ‘When We Go’ booklet as part of the TAC’s road safety inquiry project. Produced in conjunction with local educators and families, the book provides information to children, families, and communities around local road safety issues. 
• Hosted the Children’s Expo in line with Children’s Week. The free event provided interactive games, sensory activities, and story time sessions to encourage play and learning development. The Expo also informed residents of the services available to them including kindergartens, family day care, immunisation sessions, and maternal and child health care services.    

Since its adoption in 2019, the Municipal Early Years Plan (MEYP) has outlined Council’s areas of focus that support the crucial learning and development for little ones aged 0-12 and their families.  

With the new Baw Baw Early Years Infrastructure Plan currently in development, community members will soon be invited to help shape the plan.  

Quote attributable to Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe 
“It is wonderful to see all the progress and achievements that have been made across the early years’ services in one year alone.  

Well done to our Family and Children’s Services team for their outstanding work in continuously supporting and empowering our young children and families within the Shire."  

Quote attributable to Cr Joe Gauci  
“As a member of the Early Years Advisory Committee, we are so pleased to see the work that had been done behind the scenes to help deliver this crucial action plan and offer a big congratulations to all those involved.  

We look forward to playing a role in shaping the new Baw Baw Early Years Infrastructure Plan and how this will look for the future of our growing Shire.” 

Quote attributable to Cr Danny Goss  
“I’d like to congratulate Council’s Family and Children’s services team as well as the Early Years Advisory Committee who have put in mountains of work to see these achievements over the course of the 4 years.  

As a committee member myself it is a joy to work with the other committee members, many of whom are volunteers who give up their time to come up with new ideas and initiatives to deliver great outcomes young families and children in Baw Baw Shire.” 

Image: Shelley, Sam, Julie, Carolynne and Leanne from Council' Family and Children's Services team. 

Image: Julie and Carolynne from Council's Family Day Care team with the 'When We Go’ booklet developed as part of the TAC’s road safety inquiry project.