Published Tuesday, 04 November, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
School-based teams give Ipswich and Mackay kids ‘best start’: Minister
Minister for Communities Lindy Nelson-Carr today handed out ‘Healthy, happy kids’ bags to Ipswich families at the launch of a new Early Years Health and Wellbeing pilot at Silkstone State School.
The packs include parenting tip sheets, a magnetic health and wellbeing checklist, hat, toothpaste, toothbrush and a colourful growth chart for the wall.
“The Bligh Government is focused on giving our children the best start in life and that means finding different ways for families to access support and services,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“We have identified Silkstone, Bundamba and Redbank Plains schools are in areas with a really high number young families so we are responding with this pilot which will involve a team regularly visiting,” she said.
“During the pilot over the next three years, they will be visit the schools and making sure families are accessing relevant health and other support services they need.
“The program will make it easier for parents to tap into a wider range of resources and information, including advice about nutrition, parenting skills and physical education activities.
“We know how important the early years are for our littlies and our vision is to improve access to prevention and early intervention services to ensure future generations start life on the strongest footing possible.”
The program forms part of the Bligh Government’s $54 million Best Start initiative which focuses on early childhood development.
In June this year, Minister Nelson-Carr announced $540,000 over three years for both the Australian Red Cross in Ipswich and Mackay’s George Street Neighbourhood Association to employ a facilitator and community liaison worker to run the pilot.
Red Cross Executive Director Greg Goebel said the school-facilitated referral service would help to build the schools’ capacity to support and engage children and families.
“Employing community liaison workers is a proven strategy for supporting successful engagement with children and families, particularly those from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically-diverse backgrounds,” Mr Goebel said.
Minister Nelson-Carr said the Ipswich service had also been allocated $75,000 for establishment costs, with the Mackay service receiving $85,000.
The project involves a partnership between the Department of Communities, Queensland Health and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
“This investment in early childhood development is a key plank in our Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland vision for the future of Queensland,” Minister Nelson-Carr said.
“Joining Ipswich in the pilot later this month will be four schools in Mackay, so we will be monitoring the success of the program in both an urban and a regional setting.”
For free tip sheets on raising children, call the 24-hour Child Care Information Service on 1800 637 711 (toll-free).
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office on 3235 4280
The packs include parenting tip sheets, a magnetic health and wellbeing checklist, hat, toothpaste, toothbrush and a colourful growth chart for the wall.
“The Bligh Government is focused on giving our children the best start in life and that means finding different ways for families to access support and services,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“We have identified Silkstone, Bundamba and Redbank Plains schools are in areas with a really high number young families so we are responding with this pilot which will involve a team regularly visiting,” she said.
“During the pilot over the next three years, they will be visit the schools and making sure families are accessing relevant health and other support services they need.
“The program will make it easier for parents to tap into a wider range of resources and information, including advice about nutrition, parenting skills and physical education activities.
“We know how important the early years are for our littlies and our vision is to improve access to prevention and early intervention services to ensure future generations start life on the strongest footing possible.”
The program forms part of the Bligh Government’s $54 million Best Start initiative which focuses on early childhood development.
In June this year, Minister Nelson-Carr announced $540,000 over three years for both the Australian Red Cross in Ipswich and Mackay’s George Street Neighbourhood Association to employ a facilitator and community liaison worker to run the pilot.
Red Cross Executive Director Greg Goebel said the school-facilitated referral service would help to build the schools’ capacity to support and engage children and families.
“Employing community liaison workers is a proven strategy for supporting successful engagement with children and families, particularly those from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically-diverse backgrounds,” Mr Goebel said.
Minister Nelson-Carr said the Ipswich service had also been allocated $75,000 for establishment costs, with the Mackay service receiving $85,000.
The project involves a partnership between the Department of Communities, Queensland Health and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
“This investment in early childhood development is a key plank in our Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland vision for the future of Queensland,” Minister Nelson-Carr said.
“Joining Ipswich in the pilot later this month will be four schools in Mackay, so we will be monitoring the success of the program in both an urban and a regional setting.”
For free tip sheets on raising children, call the 24-hour Child Care Information Service on 1800 637 711 (toll-free).
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office on 3235 4280