Survey open to understand Early Years services

Survey open to understand Early Years services

Published on 13 September 2023

Council is conducting an early years survey to ensure it understands how parents and caregivers currently access early years services in our Shire in preparation for the implementation of the State Government ‘Best Start, Best Life’ reforms. This survey will also help Council to understand any unmet or future needs for Early Years services in our Shire.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that Council wants to ensure that we have appropriate services, support and early interventions in place to ensure that children receive the best start in life and that no child is left behind.

“We know that a child’s early years provide an important basis for their growth and development. Council’s recently adopted Early and Middle Years Strategy aims to provide a shared strategic direction for Council and the Early Years sector.”

“This survey will help gather current data from parents and caregivers with children under the age of 6 years, to understand how Early Years services will meet your current and future needs,” said Cr Brian Hood.

The ‘Best Start, Best Life’ reforms for Early Childhood providers includes:

Making kindergarten free for three and four-year olds in participating services across Victoria Transitioning four-year-old kindergarten to ‘Pre-Prep’, a universal 30-hour per week program of play-based learning (Hepburn Shire is in the roll out for 2028 to increase 4-year-old kinder to 30 hours a week) Establishing 50 government-owned and affordable childcare centres across Victoria.

Council plays a role in Early Years, however many operators (both private and public) along with both the State and Federal Governments are also directly involved and carry various responsibilities.

The survey is available at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/early-years-survey and open until 20 October 2023.