Nearly 2,000 children from communities throughout Western Australia are set to benefit from a unique program focused on supporting family relationships and building connections with community services.
Goodstart has received $200,000 in funding through the Woodside Development Fund to deliver a one-year Family Connections Program across 20 Goodstart centres in the region.
The Family Connections Program focuses on helping educators build and nurture collaborative partnerships with families and communities to improve children’s social, emotional and language skills.
Goodstart state manager for Western Australia Todd Dawson, has welcomed the support, saying it will enhance educational programs and practices across child care services for the ultimate benefit of vulnerable children and their families.
“We applaud Woodside for their investment in early childhood development. Goodstart’s 20 centres are thrilled to benefit from this funding which will enable us to provide almost 2,000 developmentally vulnerable children across Western Australia with greater learning potential and outcomes,” Mr Dawson said.
“We know children who are disadvantaged benefit most from early learning experiences, but often participate the least. This is why we work to ensure all children - regardless of their circumstances - have access to high quality early learning programs.
"By building the ability of educators to establish greater connections with families and their communities will lead to improved long-term life outcomes for children,” he said.
Woodside’s vice president corporate affairs, Sandra McInnes said “Together with Goodstart, Woodside recognises the value of early childhood development in creating a productive society, by building the ability of early childhood staff to establish and nurture family relationships, we can improve family connections to essential community services.
“Woodside through our development fund is focused on supporting programs and organisations that improve early childhood development, in Australia and globally. We have made a commitment of $20 million over 10 years, to work with the sector so children can thrive in their development, learning and life.”
Through this program, Goodstart educators attend one and two day workshops over a six month period, to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of their partnerships with families, in order to support children’s learning at home and in Goodstart centres.
Professional facilitators and local service providers from different early childhood disciplines contribute to the training program and promote improved practices for early childhood development.
Woodside is contributing A$20million to early childhood development over 10 years through the Woodside Development Fund.
Goodstart has received $200,000 in funding through the Woodside Development Fund to deliver a one-year Family Connections Program across 20 Goodstart centres in the region.
The Family Connections Program focuses on helping educators build and nurture collaborative partnerships with families and communities to improve children’s social, emotional and language skills.
Goodstart state manager for Western Australia Todd Dawson, has welcomed the support, saying it will enhance educational programs and practices across child care services for the ultimate benefit of vulnerable children and their families.
“We applaud Woodside for their investment in early childhood development. Goodstart’s 20 centres are thrilled to benefit from this funding which will enable us to provide almost 2,000 developmentally vulnerable children across Western Australia with greater learning potential and outcomes,” Mr Dawson said.
“We know children who are disadvantaged benefit most from early learning experiences, but often participate the least. This is why we work to ensure all children - regardless of their circumstances - have access to high quality early learning programs.
"By building the ability of educators to establish greater connections with families and their communities will lead to improved long-term life outcomes for children,” he said.
Woodside’s vice president corporate affairs, Sandra McInnes said “Together with Goodstart, Woodside recognises the value of early childhood development in creating a productive society, by building the ability of early childhood staff to establish and nurture family relationships, we can improve family connections to essential community services.
“Woodside through our development fund is focused on supporting programs and organisations that improve early childhood development, in Australia and globally. We have made a commitment of $20 million over 10 years, to work with the sector so children can thrive in their development, learning and life.”
Through this program, Goodstart educators attend one and two day workshops over a six month period, to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of their partnerships with families, in order to support children’s learning at home and in Goodstart centres.
Professional facilitators and local service providers from different early childhood disciplines contribute to the training program and promote improved practices for early childhood development.
Woodside is contributing A$20million to early childhood development over 10 years through the Woodside Development Fund.
Goodstart Early Learning centres currently offering the Family Connections Program include:
- Goodstart Greenfields
- Goodstart Merriwa
- Goodstart Wonthella
- Goodstart Warnbro
- Goodstart Port Kennedy
- Goodstart Girrawheen
- Goodstart Eaton
- Goodstart Banksia Grove
- Goodstart Nollamara
- Goodstart Clarkson
- Goodstart Ballajura
- Goodstart Albany
- Goodstart Busselton
- Goodstart Meadow Springs
- Goodstart Rockingham
- Goodstart East Bunbury
- Goodstart Australind
- Goodstart Armadale
- Goodstart Queens Park