Wednesday 22nd

November 2011

Melton and Moorabool Shires’ Story

Background

• Commenced work in 2009 within Early Childhood Services

(ECS)

• Start Right Eat Right and Smiles 4 Miles since 2006

• A need to include active play within ECS

• Acknowledged benefits of a state-wide award program

• Opportunity to establish a relationship with ECS

Service engagement

• Initial phone calls/ letters sent to invite services to become a K-

GFYL member

• Informal meetings held with ECS directors individually

• Highlight benefits of recognising work already being undertaken

within the service

• Ongoing support and communication provided

• Links to health professionals, VicRoads, Cancer Council Victoria,

DHSV etc

• 53 services, 19 awarded (2 previously awarded), 6 non-members

DjHS approach

• Award criteria was being met by child care services within the

ECS due to accreditation requirements

• Healthy Eating policies required updating to reflect practice and

Active Play policies needed to be developed

• Access to resources and responding to service need e.g. links to

external agencies

• Database of services and status updated monthly

• Ongoing follow up

• Ongoing communication with CCV

Key learnings

• CCV support; policy reviews, menu reviews and resources made

this work happen, particularly cluster policies

• Forums for ECS to network rather than one to one approach, also

build skills

• Needs to build on what is already happening

• Key worker required to build rapport

• Networking with other health agencies

• Incentive for participation

• Be flexible

Recommendations

• Changing policy for ECS such as ABC, ECMS is beyond our capacity

• The model utilised through K-GFYL works effectively

• Potential for a ‘hard sell’ for those services recently awarded

• Communication from the Department or CCV gives services a

motivation to partner

• Build on existing resources and key messages

Questions/ Comments