Ensuring all children in the Loddon Shire start school ready to learn​

As part of the three-year Strong ​Families Strong Children (SFSC) Loddon project funded by the William Buckland Foundation, families in the Loddon Shire will receive direct help to make sure their children are properly prepared to start school by connecting them to local support services through an Early Years Facilitator.

The SFSC partnership is aiming to “change the system one child and family at a time” in order to progress towards a sustainable, evaluated model that has the potential to be scaled to help children in other rural areas. Individual children and their families have joined with this partnership to look at their needs and address barriers they face in navigating the service system.  Whilst receiving services to support their child’s journey towards school readiness, they are also helping to improve the system for every child and family.

The SFSC Loddon Early Years Facilitator works individually with families and early years services to try to increase access for children and families to the services and resources they need to help children develop into the best they can be.

This includes establishing and supporting playgroups, working in preschools with Early Years Educators, liaising with Maternal and Child Health Nurses and supporting schools, particularly with children transitioning to school. 

The Facilitator also investigates any barriers or challenges families face in accessing the help they need and explores ways to remove these barriers and increase access to services and supports.

The role of the Early Years Facilitator is also to try to connect the services and supports that are already working in the Loddon Shire and investigate ways these services can work together more to help children and families in the Loddon Shire.

For more information about the SFSC Loddon project contact Early Years Facilitator Jess Turner on 0418 811 414 or email [email protected]