Echuca Aboriginal Best Start I would like to acknowledge that we are on Yorta Yorta Country and pay my respects to all elders past and present. “We respectfully acknowledge the Yorta Yorta Nation as the traditional Owners of the land of the communities in which Njernda Aboriginal Corporation service”

What is Aboriginal Best Start? The Vision: Aboriginal Communities working in partnership to improve the learning, health and development outcomes of young Aboriginal children and their families, particularly those in greatest need.

What is Aboriginal Best Start aiming to achieve? Efforts are focused on boosting Aboriginal children’s participation in the programs we know have the best results for setting them up for success: Children engage and participate in early childhood education (e.g. kindergarten and supported playgroups) Children and families actively engage with maternal & child health services, attending key ages and stages visits Optional outcomes 1. Children acquire literacy and numeracy skills through active participation in their education 2. Early childhood services provide an engaging and high-quality environment for children and families experiencing vulnerability.

How does Aboriginal Best Start Work? The facilitator The partnership Develop a Plan: Setting some annual objectives and some indicators to measure quarterly Choosing strategies The facilitator guides the partnership to develop some goals and strategies specifically for our community Coming up with some practice change ideas and testing these out via Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to make sure they work for families in our community.

Generating & implementing ideas for improvement or change PDSA cycle

Our current objectives and strategies: Focus / Target Group Inputs / Resources Outputs / Strategies Short-term outcomes Best Start outcomes All Aboriginal Families with children 0-8 Years of age in Echuca.   Best Start Partnership Best Start Facilitator Berrimba Childcare Centre KPSA Njernda Aboriginal Corp. KESO Campaspe Shire Council Supported Playgroups MCH LAECG Loddon Mallee Pre-school Association. Pre-schools Schools Parents/Families Shire of Campaspe Echuca Regional Health Partnerships in training. Embed Cultural safety and awareness practices in all early years services in the Campaspe Shire. Embed data sharing practices between all early years service providers in the Campaspe Shire. Service accessibility: Stretch goal 1: 90% of services to embed cultural safety and awareness practices Service Continuity and Collaboration: Stretch goal 2: All early years service providers in the Campaspe Shire are using common data sharing practices. 1. Children engage and participate in early childhood education (e.g. kindergarten and Supported Playgroups) 2. Children and families actively engage with MCH services, attending key ages and stages visits. If the target group and their needs are identified… then the appropriate inputs and strategies can be identified. If these inputs are available… then the identified strategies can be put into place. If these strategies are undertaken… then the following short-term outcomes can be expected. If these short term outcomes eventuate… then the following medium term outcomes can be expected in 2-3 years time. If these Best Start outcomes eventuate… then we can expect improved outcomes for children & their families Best Start Facilitator Local Early Childhood Learning Education (ELCE) Centres Services Cluster Kinders Long Day Care Independent kinders Local Primary Schools MCH service Local Family Support Services Anglicare Preschool Participation Support Co-ordinator. Preschool Field officers Child First Early Childhood Development Co-ordinator. MDHS Child Protection (DHS) Koorie Engagement Support Officer / DET Supported Playgroup Community Playgroup GG Child & Family AG Shire Children’s Services Child aware group Dja Dja Wurrng Corporation BDAC (Bendigo) BADAC (Ballarat)

Change ideas are simple and specific actions that are likely to help achieve the stretch goals. People working in or using the system are often the ones who have these change ideas. Change idea Change idea Change idea Change idea Change ideas are small and straight-forward enough to get started next week. Change idea Strategy 1: Embed Cultural safety and awareness practices in all early years services in the Campaspe Shire.

Strategy 1. Embed Cultural safety and awareness practices in all early years services in the Campaspe Shire. PDSA 1: Echuca South Kindergarten Koorie Family Day. PDSA 4: Aboriginal Best Start Facilitator to send reminder texts to all families currently enrolled in Supported Playgroups Change idea: Making Aboriginal families feel welcomed, safe, and supported in the Echuca early years services PDSA 2: Creating a Facebook Page called Mums and Bubs to encourage families to attend Supported Playgroups PDSA 3: Educators to text vulnerable family photos and updates of their child engaging positively with Echuca South Kindergarten Program

Summary of our Learnings from our Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles so far Open days for Koori families at Kindergartens made Koori families feel welcome and culturally safe. Engaging with parents via text message gave Koori families a sense of belonging and feeling valued. Small change ideas can make a huge impact on Koori families. Services practising cultural safety and awareness gives Koori families a sense of belonging and sets the foundation for families and educators to form trusting relationships within the education setting.