- Published:
- Friday 22 January 2016
A pop-up playgroup for vulnerable children and a team of parenting coaches are among 13 initiatives to receive grants under the Andrews Labor Government’s Maternal and Child Health Service Innovation Fund.
At the Kyneton Maternal and Child Health Centre today Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos announced that local governments will receive grants between $30,000 and $99,000, under the $950,000 fund.
The grants support fresh, creative thinking about how MCH services can better support vulnerable families at the early stages of a child’s life.
Local services will put into practice innovative strategies that strengthen engagement with families experiencing vulnerability, and ensure there is adequate support for those who need it most at a crucial stage of a child’s development.
This includes supporting families at risk of experiencing family violence, social isolation and mental health issues, as well as Aboriginal families, refugees and asylum seekers and families that are culturally and linguistically diverse.
Initiatives include collaborative work between MCH services, community groups and organisations across local government areas to better reach out to at-risk families and improve the support they receive.
Following the roll out of these local initiatives, successful experiences and results will be shared with MCH services across the state.
Through health promotion, early detection and intervention and early learning, MCH nurses provide free support and advice regarding parenting and children’s health and development.
Local governments plays an important role in the delivery of early years services in Victoria, supported by the Municipal Association of Victoria.
The Andrews Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – this starts with giving every Victorian child a healthy start in life.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Maternal and Child Health services play a central role in Victorian communities when it comes to providing support and advice to families at the crucial and exciting early stage of a child’s life.”
“These innovative programs will help us make sure we are responding to the diverse needs of families, particularly our more vulnerable.”
“We are making Victoria the Education State – boosting quality in our early childhood services is central to realising this vision.”