Information for Service Partners

The Yarra Ranges Council focus on Best Start community development initiatives, early literacy, collaboration with service partners, playgroups, preschool, universal access and planning as follows:

The Upper Yarra Family Centre provides a variety of youth, family and children’s services such as counselling, child health or parental support.

Best Start is a community development initiative in Yarra Ranges, funded by DEECD and Council, that works to ensure the best start in life for the most vulnerable children though the development of partnerships and projects.

Early Literacy Project aims to raise community awareness of the importance of literacy by encouraging parents and caregivers to read to their children and lay the foundations to improve children’s outcomes. The focus is on Millgrove/Wesburn and Mount Evelyn.  Further information can be found via the following link: Storytime Volunteer Pilot Project.

Supported Playgroups - Supported Playgroups and Parent Group Initiative (SPPI) and The Early Home Learning Study (EHLS) and Smalltalk groups support families with vulnerabilities who would not otherwise access playgroups.  The EHLS, aimed at children between 11 ½ months-38 months, was established as part of a research study to find out how best to support parents and promote learning at home for their children.  This program of work recently concluded as the Parenting Research Centre collected sufficient data to complete their research analysis however, Council will continue to resource 5 playgroups for Term 2 to support families transition into other community playgroups.  

Preschool Support - Council provides infrastructure for community based sessional kindergarten and support and training to committees of management and kindergarten cluster managers.

Universal Access - This program of work involves the research, planning and set-up of preschool staff needs in preparation for implementation by 2013 for 15 hours of preschool. This aim is for every child to have access to a preschool program in the 12 months prior to preschool.

Municipal Early Years Planning is the overall plan for Family and Children's Services covering the strengths and needs identified in the Yarra Ranges.

For more information, contact the Coordinator for Early Years Development from the Family and Children's Services team on 1300 368 333 or email us.