1. Victorian Maternal and Child Health Services REFLECTING ON THE PAST, ENHANCING THE PRESENT, DESIGNING THE FUTURE

2. REFLECTING ON THE PAST

6. ENHANCING THE PRESENT

7. How do we better fulfil children’s potential? The Economist Starting Well Index 2012

8. Existing Early Childhood Services Number of services and children (annual) State Government fundingOther funding Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services Operate in all Victorian local government areas, around 250,000 children from pregnancy to age 6. Victorian Government funds 50% of universal MCH and 100% of the Enhanced MCH program. Local government funds 50% of universal MCH. Early childhood education and care Operate nationally, with around 148,000 Victorian children aged from birth to 5 attending Commonwealth approved centres. Victorian Government does not pay a general early childhood education and care subsidy (but does fund kindergarten programs that are delivered in Long Day Care) Commonwealth funds approximately 65%, parent fees 35% KindergartenHigh-quality community based early learning in the year before school. Supports over 70,000 children annually. Victorian Government funds approximately 65% of 10 hours per week. Parent fees/ fund-raising approximately 35% of provision. Commonwealth funds provide for approximately 65% of 5 hours. Early childhood intervention services Therapeutic and learning inclusion services supporting approximately 13,000 children with a disability or developmental delay. Victorian Government funds targeted packages

9. Current Work: Early Childhood Agreement for Children in Out-of-Home Care Children aged 0-17 years in out of home care

10. Current Work: Streamlining 0- 4 services for vulnerable children 3 demonstration sites Develop and test team-based practices across services in local areas Strong implementation focus to support future state-wide roll out.

11. Early Years Strategic Plan - Framework for the future

12. DESIGNING THE FUTURE

13. The Case for Change Key drivers impacting on the service are: Population pressures and growth Family life change Barriers to access Families requiring additional support Changing service systems Economic pressures and changes in technology

14. A vision for the future Looking ahead to 2025 – what you have told us the service needs Strong advocacy for retention of current unique features of the MCH service Strong advocacy for the maintenance of a universal approach while improving key areas.

15. Key Suggestions Flexibility of the KAS framework (timing, delivery) Addressing needs of emerging and changing communities Define vulnerability to create a consistent approach Greater recognition of current strengths of MCH Service Further develop the workforce to improve quality Improving the funding model Improving IT systems and uses

16. Achieving the vision Co-production with the MAV to design and implement the vision 50+ responses were received on the consultation paper 4 proposed future directions for MCH strongly supported by the feedback Actions linked to each of these areas also strongly supported Strong argument to retaining current unique features: -Workforce qualifications -Health prevention -Partnership role with local government -Maintain universal approach while improving key areas