We work together to build the capacity of the early years sector to understand and respond to families.
We work collaboratively with families to provide a range of programs and resources that responds to the diversity of needs across the community and ensures all children and families have what they need for a great start in life.
C4C Bendigo currently has a strong focus on the first years of a child’s life, before birth to age five. We know that positive experiences, relationships, and environments in the early years support lifelong success in development, health, mental health, learning, working and relationships.
We want to strengthen the health and well-being of families and the development of young children. We see a future where:
- Children and families are valued and supported by the community,
- The early years sector is responsive to the needs of children and families, and
- Families have agency
What is our approach?
Our principles guide us and inform what we do. These principles are:
What are our priority areas?
Our Community Strategic Plan 2022-2026 focuses on four priority areas:
The following table describes the strategies we have implemented in each priority area, and what we hope to see as a result.
| Priority Area | Key Strategies: | Success looks like this: |
|---|---|---|
Build family capacity |
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Soft entry points and access to support |
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Address social and cultural isolation |
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Families have agency |
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Build family capacity
Key Strategies:
- Fund evidenced based supported playgroups – Shine Bright C4C playgroups and Baptcare Parent Child Mother Goose.
Success looks like this:
- Evidence based groups delivered to families with children aged 0-5 within a local well connected service system.
- Families have agency to make decisions.
- Parents have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to support their child’s development.
- Families have sustained peer support networks.
Soft entry points and access to support
Key Strategies:
- Supported playgroups are a soft entry point for families to access the supports they may need.
- The BDAC project to focus on family and community reconnection and resilience building following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Focus on facilitating collaboration, strengthening professional networks, leveraging opportunities, and building relationships and practice wisdom within the early years and community services sectors.
Success looks like this:
- Accessible and responsive services are provided. Families are supported to engage with the services they need.
- The community service sector understands the importance of the early years and take action to support families.
- The early years sector is well equipped to support vulnerable families.
- Parents have the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources to meet their family’s needs.
Address social and cultural isolation
Key Strategies:
- Fund BDAC to deliver Connecting Community projects.
Success looks like this:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Greater Bendigo have a strong connection to culture
- Families are supported to connect with each other through supported playgroups and community cultural activities.
- All C4C Bendigo stakeholders continue to make changes to strengthen cultural safety for First Nations peoples.
Families have agency
Key Strategies:
- Fund the Voice of the Family project, which pilots innovative approaches to community engagement in service design and delivery, builds sector capacity and supports C4C Community Partners to embed family voice across all projects.
- Parent/Carer decision making about the supported playgroup programs is an integral component.
Success looks like this:
- Children and families are valued and supported by the community.
- The early years sector is responsive to the needs of children and families.
- Families have agency.