Improved outcomes for children and families in South Gippsland Shire are in sharp focus, with community members encouraged to share their thoughts on the subject during a two-week consultation period running between November 16 and November 30.
At their November public meeting, councillors endorsed the draft version of the Children and Families Plan 2023–2027 for community engagement.
“The plan articulates how agencies, governments, children and families, and the wider community will work together to improve outcomes for children and their families,” the draft document states.
A lack of access to childcare is one of the crucial challenges identified in the plan, with Foster, Fish Creek, Toora, Welshpool, Meeniyan, Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay all towns in which that situation prevails.
“Partnerships between government, service providers and developers will be critical to addressing existing and future gaps,” it is observed in the plan.
The need to develop strategies to expand workforce numbers in the health and education sectors to better support children and families is a key objective outlined.
Cr Mohya Davies stressed at Wednesday’s meeting that council is doing its utmost to plan in all the areas in which it is involved, but having been a kindergarten teacher for 30 odd years she is passionate about providing the best possible support for children and families.
She highlighted the challenges council faces in attempting to implement State Government changes to kindergarten that involve a significant boost in hours of attendance for those in both three and four-year-old kinder, noting a lack of sufficient infrastructure and resourcing.
“Plans like this try to identify where the critical gaps in available childcare are,” Cr Davies said.
Cr Jenni Keerie noted the importance of such planning in forming a platform from which to advocate to higher levels of government for needed improvements.
Approaches to boost the resilience of families are also identified in the draft Children and Families Plan document, which is available to view through council’s website.
